Reid may force vote on nominees
Senate Democratic leaders may force a showdown with Republicans as early as next week to end delays in confirming President Obama's nominees for labor secretary, chief environmental regulator and other agencies. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid could package votes on the Labor and Environmental Protection Agency selections, along with Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and picks for the National Labor Relations Board, said Adam Jentleson, a Reid spokesman. Reid may file a motion within days to force the votes next week and let lawmakers then act on the nominations, he said. The nominations of Cordray, Thomas Perez to run the Labor Department and Gina McCarthy to lead the EPA face Republican opposition and may fail in a filibuster. It takes 60 votes to end such a delaying tactic, and Democrats control 55 Senate seats.
Bloomberg News
