Richard Shelby Has Put Holds on Every Obama Administration Nomination
Without 60 votes to break the deadlock, apparently placed over some earmarks Shelby wants for his home state of Alabama, no nominations can move forward. The debate over this will focus on politics and on the deficit, and the optics of Shelby throwing a fit over earmarks at a time when the Republicans are hammering the administration on spending. But I really wish that some politician, somewhere, would talk about the impact of agencies not having leaders because of this kind of move. Holds aren't cost-free, but because most politicians and most Americans don't see the costs to agencies, they feel free to ignore them.
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Government Executive Editor in Chief Tom Shoop, along with other editors and staff correspondents, take a fresh look at news affecting the management and operations of the federal bureaucracy.
We don't have a leader in the WH so why do the agencies need 1??
dan ketter Posted Friday, February 5, 2010 1:04 PMThe Democrats' radical liberal agenda is causing far more damage to the United States than holds on nominations ever will. If the Democrats want cooperation they should drop their dangerous leftist agenda and get in sync with Americans.
American Posted Monday, February 8, 2010 9:22 AMSo, when the Republicans screamed at the top of their lungs for years about how every nominee deserves an up-or-down vote, they were lying through their teeth. And when they whined about earmarks, they were ALSO lying through their teeth. And when they babbled about "tax and sepdn Democrats" they were busy deficit spending with borrowed money, and AGAIN lying through their teeth.
Is there a single Republican elected official ANYWHERE who is physically capable of telling the truth? Or have all of them had their vocal cords surgically altered to be incapable of speaking anything but the same old lies?
Sam Posted Monday, February 8, 2010 9:40 AMThis is so unbelievably ridiculous. It's one thing to stand on meaningful principles having to do with significant Government policy - but earmarks. The impact on those agencies is without tangible measure but it is very real. Actings, either out of respect for the nominee or their own anxiety, rarely embrace the decisions needed to drive excellence. To put organizations in the state of suspended animation is reprehensible. In my view the recent holds exercised by Senators does a disservice to a time honored tradition with a rich history of purpose not abuse.
SP Mayor Posted Monday, February 8, 2010 10:38 AMThis makes no sense. Its one thing to place a hold on an individual nominee to make a point about qualifications or other related issues associated with that agency. But to place a hold on all nominees is extortion!! Why, because the senator wants a commitment to build a facility in his state. So the ability of several agencies to perform are held hostage by one senator from one state until he gets what he wants. This is not right and should not be allowed to continue.
JB Posted Monday, February 8, 2010 11:45 AMOINK. OINK. The new way to get pork. The President should appoint them all the next recess.
YY Posted Monday, February 8, 2010 12:04 PM