WASHINGTON — Republicans pushed President Donald Trump's nominees to head the Energy and Interior Departments through a Senate panel on Tuesday while other committees moved toward votes on his picks to head agencies in the thick of partisan battles over health care, legal protections, education and the economy.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee quickly approved former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as Energy secretary by 16-7, and Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., to head Interior by 16-6. But several of his other picks faced more spirited opposition from Democrats.
As the Senate Judiciary Committee worked toward a vote on Sen. Jeff Sessions' nomination to be attorney general, the panel's top Republican praised the Alabama Republican.
"He's a man of integrity," said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. "He's a man of his word. And he'll enforce the law, regardless of whether he would've supported passage of that law as a legislator.
The Senate Finance Committee was expected to advance Trump's picks of Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., to be health secretary and Steve Mnuchin, a wealthy former financier, to lead Treasury. And the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee was considering conservative activist Betsy DeVos to head the Education Department.
All the nominees had strong Republican support, though final confirmation votes by the full Senate weren't yet scheduled.
The Finance Committee's top Democrat, Ron Wyden of Oregon, said he'd oppose Price and Mnuchin. Democrats have accused Price of insider trading in health industry stocks, which he's denied, and criticized Mnuchin for not initially revealing nearly $100 million in assets.
"I cannot support nominees who treat disclosures like shell games and ethics laws like mere suggestions," Wyden said.
Republicans were trying to help Trump staff his Cabinet in the second week of an administration that has ignited fights on multiple fronts. Trump by executive action has clamped temporary bans against refugees from all countries and visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations, and he's seen relations with Mexico sour after insisting it will pay for a border wall. And he's backing the GOP's problematic efforts to dismantle President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
Trump complained Monday night about the confirmation process, tweeting: "The Democrats are delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons. They have nothing going but to obstruct."
Trump has nominated some of the wealthiest Americans to serve a president, leading to exhaustive ethics reviews. A Senate schedule interrupted by breaks has also delayed the process.
Democrats have targeted Price, a seven-term congressional veteran, for his staunch backing of his party's drive to scuttle Obama's health care law and to reshape Medicare and Medicaid, which help older and low-income people afford medical care.
They've also assailed Price for buying stocks of health care firms, accusing him of using insider information and conflicts of interest for backing legislation that could help his investments. Price says his trades were largely managed by brokers and that he's followed congressional ethics rules.
The Finance panel was also expected to approve Mnuchin to become treasury secretary. Democrats have accused Mnuchin of failing to protect homeowners from foreclosures and criticized him for not initially disclosing all his assets.
The Judiciary panel's vote on Sessions was coming with Democrats and demonstrators around the country in an uproar over Trump's executive order blocking refugees. Even some Republicans were warning it could hinder anti-terrorism efforts.
Democrats have questioned Sessions' devotion to enforcing civil rights laws.
DeVos, a wealthy GOP donor, has long supported charter schools and allowing school choice. That's prompted opposition from Democrats and teachers' unions, which view her stance as a threat to federal dollars that support public education.
Critics have mocked her for suggesting that guns could be justified in schools to protect students from grizzly bears. Health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., called her an "excellent" choice.
The full Senate was on track to easily confirm Elaine Chao to become transportation secretary in a mid-day vote.
Chao was labor secretary under President George W. Bush, and is wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. She would be a lead actor in pursuing Trump's promise to invest $1 trillion to improve highways, rail service and other infrastructure projects.
On Monday evening, the Senate cleared the way for a final vote on Rex Tillerson, Trump's nominee to be secretary of state. Democrats wanted Tillerson to answer questions about Trump's ban against entry for people from seven majority Muslim countries, but lost a bid to delay his nomination.
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(6) comments
Perry as Energy secretary is messssed up.
Certainly all of these restorers are aware of then President Obama's 1.1 Trillion Dollar Omnibus Bill that was signed into law in December of 2012.
Now I have been getting reqiuests from Mr. Miller who hopes to take Zinke's seat in the House. However, Before I make a donation and, or support any Candidate I need just a more of information
So let'r review what happened in December of 2012 and the real Ryan Zenki. In December of 2015 Montana Congressman Ryan Zenki signed President Obama's 1.1 Trillion Dollar Omnibus Bill which was signed into law by Paul Ryan and 3/5ths of the Republican House. This Bill immediately granted 300,000 Visas to These so called unvetted Muslim Refugees and also requires that 500,000 Muslims be granted asylum in the United States by the end of 2017.
Currently President Trump's personnel legal council one *Stephen Brannon said that Paul Ryan "Betrayed the American people" which I agree he and 3/5ths. of the Republicrat House as well as Zinke did also.
So my question to all residents of Montana is, if you were asked to sign this Bill would you?
Sincerely,
CW De Spain
* See Breitbart News 12-12-15 for verification
Charles Grassley is vouching for the integrity of Jeff Sessions. Whenever I see Grassley's name, i remember seeing him on TV telling his constituents about Democratic death panels. Hummm
The republicans are once again proving that they'd rather douse the house with gas, set it on fire and sit inside with all of us watching it all burn to stick it to the 99% (and blame liberals along the way).
And Zinke? He just shows he'll do whatever he's told or what's advantageous at whatever moment he's in and crowd he's in front of. Perry? He showed us how deep a thinker he was when he couldn't name all three of his three key points in the debate years ago. Empty suits put in place to keep the fires burning...while the emperor and his sycophants rake in the cash.
Your ignorance and belligerence knows no bounds spewter. But I love watching you foam off at the mouth like a spoiled child not getting there way.
Thanks for the laugh!
I agree Max.
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