Update:Original Post:
After weeks of delays and wrangling a Senate confirmation vote is expected later today on Labor Secretary-designee Hilda Solis. MSNBC’s First Read says that the vote could come as early as 4:30 this afternoon.According to an article in the Huffington Post:
Republicans in the Senate just agreed to unanimous consent on the California Democrat's nomination for the labor post, according to a labor source. That means that no cloture vote is needed and Solis will be confirmed should she get more than 50 votes. In short: she will be the next Labor Secretary.The Californian of Honduran and Mexican background had been selected over two months ago by President Barack Obama to head the Labor Department and could become the second Latino to be part of Obama’s cabinet.
Solis' nomination had been held up in committee and on the Senate floor due to a variety of factors, most recently tax liens her husband had failed to pay on his business. Labor allies, however, contended that the opposition was driven by her support of the Employee Free Choice Act -- a union priority that Republicans in the Senate staunchly oppose. With Solis set to get through the Senate Tuesday afternoon, these same labor allies are now ecstatic.
Critics of Solis contend that she’s a puppet manipulated by major labor unions and this would continue if she becomes Labor Secretary. On the other hand, her supporters argue that her detractors exaggerate her pro-union stance and that she “is a true champion of America's workers”.
Regardless of whether one agrees with her or not, it’s only fair that she can at least face a Senate vote and see if she’s confirmed or rejected.
Image- Pasadena Star-News
Online Sources- Human Events, The Nation, The Latin Americanist, Huffington Post, First Read
No comments:
Post a Comment