Senate Democrats Move on Stalled Nominees

[jefferson_dem]

Senate Democrats Move on Stalled Nominees
By CARL HULSE

As they brace for a possible Republican filibuster of new rules for the financial industry, Senate Democrats this week will try to overcome Republican opposition to a handful of long-stalled Obama administration nominees.

Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, late last week moved to cut off debate on five nominations that Democrats say are being unnecessarily delayed. They include Lael Brainard to be a Treasury undersecretary and Christopher H. Schroeder for a position at Justice.

Democrats hope to use the nomination fight to expose what they are stalling tactics by Republicans to prevent the White House from filling key jobs or to force Democrats to use up scarce Senate floor time. They say that many delayed nominees are often later approved overwhelmingly.

Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota, said Mr. Schroeder has been in Senate limbo since his nomination was approved by the Judiciary Committee last July.

“The American people ought to be incensed about this because what this is doing is slowing down anything from getting done on jobs, on Wall Street reform and on energy,” Mr. Franken said last week as several junior Democrats took the floor to air their grievances over the slow walking of the nominations. “This is about not letting this president and this Congress achieve anything. This is about obstructionism.”

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http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/senate-democrats-move-on-stalled-nominees/?src=twt&twt=thecaucus

[AndyA]

1. Mr. Franken: Now we know why the GOP was so adamant about keeping him out of that seat.

He speaks the truth, and most often it's not what the right wants to hear. Tough.

We need more Frankens, Graysons, etc., in Congress. Not afraid to stand up for what's best for the American people. :thumbsup:

[dccrossman]

2. Kick

Franken rocks

[Laurab]

3. K&R nt

[Cha]

4. Thanks Senator Franken for getting

out there and speaking to this.