As reported previously on this blog, Terrell McSweeny, voted out of Senate Commerce Committee earlier this fall, remains one step away from confirmation as Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, requiring a vote by the full U.S. Senate. McSweeny is not considered a controversial candidate, and is widely expected to receive bipartisan support. She will most likely be confirmed by unanimous consent (UC).
Last month, a slate of candidates, which may have included McSweeny, was put together for a UC on the same day that Senator Reid invoked the so-called nuclear option (changing the confirmation requirement to a simple majority). Republicans objected to the historic rule change, and the UC slate was never voted upon.
On Monday, a slate of UC candidates was again prepared for a vote (which may have included McSweeny). Republicans, still objecting to the change in voting rules, refused to go along, and the nominees never made it to the floor of the Senate.
Since Monday, the Democrats have been invoking the simple majority rules to confirm a handful of high-profile candidates, such as Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) as the new head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Republicans retain the ability to delay each confirmation vote with 30 hours of debate. While they may do so with some of the remaining high-profile candidates, a number of Hill observers note that some Republicans have already voted in favor of the nominees this week, and believe that the Republicans will agree to pass a slate of non-controversial candidate in the final days of voting next week before the Christmas recess, which, again, may include McSweeny.
posted by Anant Raut
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