"I'm not qualified to talk about right-to-work laws", says Representative Hilda Solis to Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee).Hilda Solis had her confirmation hearing over two weeks ago as one of Obama's first cabinet picks for Labor Secretary and nothing since. Why?
She seems like a lock. Look at her credentials at least from SEIU's President Andy Stern's perspective...
"The daughter of two immigrant workers and union members and a board member of American Rights at Work, she will be a Secretary of Labor working men and women can finally count on to stand up and fight for them. For Representative Solis, the America Dream is not an abstraction. Her parents met in a citizenship class. She understands personally the challenges workers face in a global economy and the need for a bold new agenda that expands healthcare for everyone and gives American workers a greater choice and a greater voice..."
Ahh, but those nagging non-answered questions from those pesky Republicans on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) has been pushing for more detailed responses to questions posed on several issues, including the EFCA bill.
When asked whether he was satisfied with the answers Solis has given, Enzi said: "What answers? She doesn't even recognize her own record when giving the answers. Right now there are people who don't want her out of committee. It's not just me. While we traditionally confirm a president's nominations, there's also the obligation to really get it down on paper what their beliefs are."
You can't get a Senate vote if you can't get a committee vote... Now, even Senator Ted Kennedy (who heads the committee) cannot confirm when a final vote will occur.
Solis, who repeatedly dodged questions about the bill at her confirmation hearing, said that she could not express her opinion on it because she and Obama had not yet discussed the issue.
Enzi says that he hopes the nominee will talk with the president about the bill, "get an answer, give us an answer."
Interesting developments... I bet the unions are feeling a little queasy about now.
Visit Our Newsroom
0 comments:
Post a Comment