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Solis Vote Postponed, But No Hold on Her Nomination |
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The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee postponed a scheduled vote today on the nomination of Hilda Solis for secretary of labor. President Obama announced his choice of Solis in December, and the Senate committee held a hearing on her nomination Jan. 9.
Some news reports have pointed to Republican opposition to Solis over the Employee Free Choice Act—she was a co-sponsor of the bill in the U.S. House—and suggested there may have been plans to place a hold on her nomination by a Republican senator.
But in a joint statement, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), the committee chairman, and Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), the panel’s ranking minority member, said the vote was postponed
to allow members additional time to review the documentation submitted in support of Representative Solis’ nomination to serve in the important position of labor secretary. There are no holds on her nomination, and members on both sides of the aisle remain committed to giving her nomination the fair and thorough consideration that she deserves. We will continue to work together to move this nomination forward as soon as possible.
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney this afternoon urged the committee to move ahead with a vote as soon as possible and move the confirmation to the full Senate.
Congresswoman Hilda Solis is eminently qualified for this post and will be a vigorous advocate for the kinds of programs that our nation’s working people need the most. She will fight to improve skills development and job-creation programs, including development of “green-collar” jobs. She will work to assure that workers get the pay they have earned and that they work in safe, healthy and fair workplaces. She’s ready to address the retirement security crisis and will work hard to protect every worker from job discrimination, regardless of race, sex, veteran status or disability.
She understands that working men and women deserve the freedom to choose whether to form a union without employer interference.
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The article conveniently omits this: “A Senate committee today abruptly canceled a session to consider President Obama’s nomination of Rep. Hilda Solis to be labor secretary in the wake of a report saying that her husband yesterday paid about $6,400 to settle tax liens against his business — including liens that had been outstanding for as long as 16 years.” Maybe Solis really is on our side and not a tax cheater like her husband, or Tom Daschle, but what does it say about our great hope Obama if he keeps nominating folks with questionable ethics? Now Big O wants Republican Judd Gregg to head the Commerce dept after he voted to abolish it! Shouldn’t that disqualify him? Are there no uncorrupted candidates?
All I could say is this. I’d be very surprised if there were not a large percentage of well intentioned Americans who either owe on their taxes or have made mistakes on them, and the reason is because the tax laws are so complicated and so lengthy, and so confusing to understand, that many, many people make mistakes, and I’m sure even those who get paid to do other people’s taxes make errors as well.
As far as Solis, I am quite sure the Republicans are nervous about her appointment, and they will delay it as long as possible. She is certainly an excellent pick for Secretary of Labor, and I hope her appointment is made soon!