Senate Committees OK Nussle

On July 31 and Aug. 2, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Budget Committees approved the nomination of former Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA) to serve as Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director, by votes of 16-0 and 22-1, respectively. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has scheduled a floor vote on the nomination for Sept. 4. On June 19, current OMB Director Rob Portman announced his resignation, effective in August. The same day, President Bush nominated Nussle to be the next OMB director. Portman left his post on Aug. 3, creating a vacancy that will last at least through Labor Day, barring a recess appointment. The Constitution allows presidents to fill vacancies "that may happen during the recess of the Senate" without waiting for confirmation votes. The Senate is in recess for the month of August. At least two holds against the nomination are currently in place. After casting the only vote against Nussle in the Budget Committee, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced he had placed one of the holds on Nussle. Committee chair Kent Conrad (D-ND) confirmed at least one Democrat had also placed a hold on the nomination. Sanders cited philosophical differences with the administration's fiscal policy, saying, "President Bush is completely out of touch with the economic realities facing working families in America. Bush needs to hear the truth, not an echo. He needs a budget director who will make him face the facts, not fan his fantasies." Another hold, by Republican Sen. Pete Domenici (NM), was lifted on the day the Budget Committee cleared Nussle for floor action. Domenici announced the hold was related to concerns he had about the Bush administration not moving forward on a new loan program he cared about. Apparently, he received assurances about the program and lifted the hold. How and when the two remaining holds might be lifted is a matter of speculation. Although the confirmation process has slowed down with the Senate in recess, no observers expect Nussle's nomination to be rejected in the end. If Reid wants to proceed with floor consideration after the recess, he can move forward even with the holds still standing. However, he may need 60 votes if the senators with the holds choose to follow through with a filibuster.
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