Interior Nomination Likely To Be Rejected in Senate

[babylonsister]

It looks like that obstruction is paying off.


Interior Nomination Likely To Be Rejected in Senate
By Kathleen Hunter, CQ Staff


The Senate appears poised to reject President Obama’s nominee to the No. 2 post at the Interior Department, a situation that could escalate tensions between Senate Republicans and the White House.

Majority Leader Harry Reid ’s office signaled late Tuesday that Republican opposition would prevent Senate Democrats from securing the 60 votes needed to move forward with the nomination of David Hayes as deputy secretary of Interior.

The Senate will vote Wednesday morning to invoke cloture and limit debate on the nomination. If the chamber can’t muster 60 votes, as expected, Hayes’ nomination will stall.

“It’s outrageous, and it’s not fair to President Obama who deserves to have his deputies installed in key Cabinet departments,” said Reid spokesman Jim Manley, who described Republicans’ objections as “petty.”

No other Obama nominee has come to a vote and failed to get the support necessary for confirmation. The only other Obama nominee who faced a cloture vote was Christopher Hill, who was confirmed as ambassador to Iraq on April 21 by a vote of 73-23, after voting to end debate on the nomination April 20 by a vote of 73-17.

Reid filed for cloture May 11 on Hayes’ nomination, which has been delayed because of a controversy about oil and gas development. Robert F. Bennett , R-Utah, said in March that he would try to hold up floor consideration because he objected to the department’s decision to cancel oil and gas drilling leases near several national parks in Utah.

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