David Hayes: Obama Interior Nominee Blocked By GOP

WASHINGTON — Republicans blocked President Barack Obama's pick for the No. 2 job at the Interior Department on Wednesday in a dispute over oil and gas development on federal lands, but Democrats vowed they would soon make a second attempt to win confirmation.

The 57-39 vote was three short of the 60 needed to advance David Hayes past Republican objections, and made him the first of Obama's top-level nominees to be sidetracked on the Senate floor.

Hayes, an environmental lawyer picked by Obama to serve as deputy secretary of the Interior Department, held the same post during the last three years of the Clinton administration. He also led Obama's natural resources transition team, responsible for naming a new Interior Department chief.

Earlier this year, three of Obama's Cabinet-level nominees withdrew their names from consideration _ health and human services secretary nominee Tom Daschle over tax problems, commerce secretary nominee Bill Richardson because of an investigation into contracts and a second commerce secretary nominee, Judd Gregg, a Republican, over policy disagreements with Obama.

Republican opposition to Hayes' nomination was led by Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah, who expressed anger over Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's recent decision to revoke 77 oil and gas leases in Utah. He was joined by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who raised questions about the administration's plans for oil and gas development and objected to recent reversals of several Bush-era rules on endangered species and mountaintop mining.

Senate Democrats, who were joined by Salazar at the Capitol on Wednesday, said the move was an effort to stall the new administration from carrying out its agenda.

Near the top of the list is cleaning up a department that in recent years has been embroiled in scandals that included contract rigging and instances of employees having romantic relationships with workers at oil companies doing business with the government.

"It may be uncomfortable for some to watch us have to clean up mess after mess _ from corruption to lawbreaking _ that is the previous administration's legacy at Interior, but to cast a vote against such a qualified and fine person is the height of cynicism," Salazar said in a statement following the vote.

Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Democrats would make a second attempt to gain 60 votes as soon as next week. Three Democrats _ Sens. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland as well as Sens. John Kerry and Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts _ did not vote. Their presence would have left Hayes with 60 votes, the total needed to overcome GOP objections.

"With their votes next week he will be approved," Durbin told reporters.

Robert Dillon, a Murkowski spokesman, said the Alaska lawmaker hoped the disagreements could be worked out, which presumably would clear the way for swift confirmation.

Hayes won the support of all Democrats who voted except for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who switched to opposition at the last moment as part of a procedural move so he could later call for a revote. Independent Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut as well as Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe of Maine and Jon Kyl of Arizona also backed confirmation.

Seventeen other Obama nominees have been approved by committee and await full Senate approval.

Comments

[mamamay]

It appears that the block could have been avoided had the folks in charge been PATIENT and waited until the key voters were PRESENT. The next time, when Hayes is re introduced, alert the voters to insure their presence to vote for a nominee. Then this game of "tag and block," so well played by these angry, eager to reject Obama, folks, will be blocked. The Dems need to wake up earlier, and learn the strategies used by these "I gotcha " folks, to stay ahead of their evil ploys.

[Alablanca]

TYPICAL OF THE REPUBLICANS - TO THEM IS THE STANDARD "NO" TO EVERY PROPOSAL THAT BRINGS GOOD THINGS TO THE NATION AND TO THE WORLD. THE DEMOCRATS WHO JOINED THEM, WILL BE HEARING FROM ME, THAT'S FOR SURE. EVERY AMERICAN WITH GOOD INTENTIONS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS. ALL THEY WORRY ABOUT IS GETTING RE-ELECTED - SO IF YOURS IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION AND VOTED WITH THE REPUBLICANS ON THIS ISSUE - WRITE OR CALL THEM AND LET THEM KNOW YOU WILL NOT BE VOTING TO RE-ELECT HIM/HER TO CONGRESS.

[PhilipTaylor]

Why didn't Mikulski and Kerry vote?

[Alablanca]

YEAH, WHY DIDN'T THEY VOTE? THEY WILL HEAR FROM ME - WILL THEY HEAR FROM YOU?

[UsofA]

Vote the regressive obstructionists out in 2010 and let's move on without them.

[LITU]

As usual, politics pre-empts progress.

[rbloom]

Reports are that Kerry and Mikulski were absent for the vote and Reid voted nay so he can move for reconsideration later. So it will get done.
But why did Reid let it come to a vote today? Can't he count?? And really, what other majority leader in history has had 59 members in his caucus and couldn't get a a goddam assistant secretary nomination through on a voice vote? Lyndon Johnson is probably spinning so fast you could hook him up to a turbine and power half of Texas.
Sheesh.

[Alablanca]

BOO-BOO ON REID'S PART!

[wordvarc]

the

Grand Obstructionist Party.

[mudshark12]

I always wondered what G.O.P. stood for, now I know. Thank you, wordvarc!

[Katzencats]

Actually, it's "Gang Of Pr!cks".

Will we EVER rid ourselves of Republican dominance, esp. since they are no longer the dominant party???

[patricklee5150]

So, let me get this straight.....we need 60 votes but they don't need to have 40 votes?

[mudshark12]

Seems unfair, don't it?

[hkochii]

Next couple of election cycles the GOP is going to be scratching their heads wondering how they lost so many more offices, from mayorial all the way to Washington. Think they will look back and admit the current behavior had anything to do with it?

[LTBROWN]

Nah. They won't. They'll find something else to blame it on.

[dragonlady620]

Not likely-their motto is-it's always the Democrat's fault. They would rather see the country go down the tubes that admit responsibility for anything.

[Kassandra]

HOW DO they keep getting away with this stuff. Every one of Bush's nominees sailed thru. who's the majority up there. something is seriously wrong and I suspect it's that lily livered Reid.

[Rangergirl]

We wonder why the repubs are so unpopular...They only know one word....NO

[enriquecaliente]

From what I've seen, neither party is for the people. We need to clean out every last one in there now. We need to remove them all. We need to have term limits, this would not end but at least stem the stupidity, and neglect that I've seen in the last 9 years.

[AmericanWarrior]

I am starting not to trust Harry Reid.

[sej100]

The GOP is the party of greed and lies.
The Democrats keep caving in

The Government has failed to protect the taxpayers.

We have been betrayed by the politicians who failed us all.

[amorando]

I again say, why nuck under to this intimidation. Does the majority rule or not. DId the Democrats do this when they were in the minority. Bring each issue to a filibuster and let the public see what the republicans will do to stall affairs of state. Every issue. This is new and the Democrats are permitting the stymying of the congress.

Let's see if the Republicans will block the country's business. Let's just see.

[yukoner1]

There is nothing democratic about the U.S. Senate. One person, one vote does not apply. The 25 least populous states (50 Senators) comprise about 16% of the U.S. population. On the other end, the 9 most populous states (18 Senators) are just over half the U.S. population. In addition the ability of any Senator to filibuster, requiring 60 votes to cut off debate further distorts the picture.