The deal that will allow several of President Obama's executive branch nominees to get through the Senate without Republican filibusters could help Minnesota U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones, the president's pick to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Jones was not one of the seven executive nominees that were part of this week's agreement. But the hope among Democrats, who agreed to leave existing filibuster rules in place, is that the good vibrations from the accord will help move forward Jones' nomination – among 175 or so pending executive nominees. Said U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.: "I'm hopeful that the goodwill generated by this bipartisan agreement will help us move forward with Todd Jones' nomination as well as the other pending executive nominations." Up until now, Jones has faced stiff opposition form GOP senators critical of his management style and his views on gun control. Democrats charge that the gun lobby and its Republicans allies want to weaken the ATF by opposing any permanent director.
