Democrats optimistic as Julie Su's labor nomination languishes Senate

It’s been practically 4 months since President Joe Biden nominated Julie Su to change into labor secretary, and Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has not but set a date to carry a vote on the ground, a key signal that her nomination nonetheless doesn’t have the votes.

However Senate Democrats and the White Home are projecting optimism as they try and sway moderates who've been noncommittal.

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“Her nomination is on observe, however we want everyone right here to vote,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) advised the Washington Examiner on Thursday whereas leaving the Capitol after a vote. “I completely assume she’ll make it by way of, she’s going to be a terrific secretary of labor.”

Su appeared earlier than the Home Training and Workforce Committee for practically 4 hours on Wednesday and confronted powerful questions from Home Republicans. The aim of her testimony was alleged to be on a White Home proposal that will elevate the Labor Division’s funds by $1.5 billion.

Nonetheless, Republicans on the panel utilized their time to dig into the array of points raised by opponents of her nomination to change into labor secretary as a substitute of the spending plan. They zeroed in on what they noticed as her company’s lack of cooperation with the Home panel's request for data and stories of kid labor violations involving immigrants, amongst different issues.

If confirmed, Su would change into the primary Asian American member of Biden’s Cupboard on the secretary degree. The administration is the primary in additional than 20 years to not have an Asian American Cupboard secretary. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), who has expressed her displeasure with the shortage of Asian People within the Cupboard, pointed to Su’s efficiency earlier than the Home committee as a purpose why she ought to be confirmed as the subsequent secretary of labor.

“She did very well and I believe the Republicans had been pondering that they had been going to search out some ammunition to do her in and they didn't succeed,” Hirono stated, chatting with the Washington Examiner on Thursday. “She comported herself. She is doing the job. I’d prefer to see her confirmed.”

The White Home has intensified its lobbying efforts in latest weeks, reaching out to senators and often talking with Schumer, though it’s nonetheless unclear which particular senators they're attempting to sway.

Many centrist and unbiased senators are nonetheless weighing whether or not to help Su’s nomination. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) wouldn't reply questions from the Washington Examiner about the way forward for Su’s nomination or how he intends to vote, however he has beforehand advised the Biden administration he has deep reservations about her, in keeping with sources with information of the matter.

Manchin’s potential opposition, mixed with one different Democratic defection, might halt Su’s affirmation. She wants at the least 50 votes within the Senate, wherein Democrats have a slim 51-49 maintain over Republicans. It’s unclear the place different moderates resembling Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) stand. Manchin, Sinema, King, Kelly, and Tester all supported her for the deputy put up in 2021.

“I met together with her, I’m nonetheless listening to of us, I did vote for her in her deputy put up, however I've a coverage of not previewing how I’m going to vote forward of time,” stated Kelly on Thursday as he walked right into a vote.

Tester advised the Hill that he nonetheless is weighing a call, however he additionally stated if Su lacks the votes, the White Home wants to think about beginning the method over and pulling her nomination.

“I’m nonetheless trying, nonetheless taking enter,” Tester stated. “Are we ever going to vote for her? I don’t know/ I don't know/ I've not been enjoying in that sandbox in any respect. I’m simply taking enter from Montanans.”

White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasised on Wednesday that Biden has “confidence that she's going to get by way of.”

"It is a full-court press to get Julie confirmed. Exterior teams proceed to – to additionally push her ahead. And positively, she's going to get the help from the White Home in addition to from this President," Jean-Pierre stated. “We're assured, and we’re going to proceed to maneuver ahead.”

A gaggle of greater than 70 lawmakers who're a part of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Democratic Ladies’s Caucus despatched Senate management a letter on Wednesday urging them to verify her.

Schumer didn't reply questions from reporters Wednesday about whether or not he plans to carry a vote on her nomination, however he emphasised he nonetheless believes there’s a approach for Su to win the variety of votes wanted.

“Look, she’s an incredible nominee, and we're going to do the whole lot we will to assist her get confirmed,” Schumer stated.

Nonetheless, some Republicans aren’t so positive her nomination is shifting ahead.

“I don’t even know the place her nomination stands at present, whether it is even advancing to a Senate vote. I haven’t had an opportunity to talk with my colleagues about it,” stated Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who has been seen by some as a possible swing voter regardless that she voted towards Su in April on the committee degree. “I spoke to the White Home a while in the past about Su, however I’m undecided what the Democrats are doing. I’m ready on them.”

Su’s nomination handed out of committee this April with no Republican votes and has been stalled ever since. Republican senators who voted towards her nomination in committee took problem together with her therapy of unbiased contractors and stated she had not established ok relationships with the enterprise group as California’s labor secretary. A number of additionally highlighted the quantity of fraud within the unemployment program in California in the course of the pandemic.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who has publicly come out towards Su’s nomination, stated she had no information of what's coming subsequent.

“I’m not voting for her, and I've completely no thought what is occurring and whether or not there shall be a vote on the Senate flooring,” Collins stated.