Senate Republicans are calling on President Biden to drag his nominee to go the Department of Labor, who has languished and not using a affirmation vote for a record-setting 126 days.
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee rating member Bill Cassidy (R-La.) despatched a letter to the president on Thursday that claimed Julie Su was unconstitutionally filling her function and her nomination ought to be eliminated.
Acting secretaries are in a position to serve not more than 210 days beneath the federal Vacancies Act earlier than being confirmed, however Cassidy claimed a separate Labor Department rule was permitting Su to unlawfully serve “in perpetuity” and with out Senate approval.
“If your administration believes Ms. Su can not obtain the required votes for affirmation, then you need to rescind her nomination,” Cassidy stated. “Any makes an attempt to bypass the need of Congress, particularly its constitutionally mandated recommendation and consent function, is unacceptable.”
The battle over Su has stretched for greater than 4 months, the longest a cabinet-level nominee has waited for affirmation when the identical occasion controls each the Senate and White House.
On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) highlighted Su’s report as labor secretary of California, the place she oversaw as a lot as $31.4 billion in fraudulent unemployment advantages in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Mr. President, American taxpayers have seen sufficient of Julie Su. When will Senate Democrats lastly determine they’ve as effectively?” McConnell stated on the Senate ground.
Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), McConnell, Cassidy and 30 different GOP senators claimed in a June 21 letter to Biden that Su instructed California Labor Department workers to cover undocumented employees from Immigration and Customs and Enforcement investigators.
“Her observe report and unwillingness to supply readability to her previous positions and the actions she would take as Secretary of Labor proceed to lift considerations about her nomination,” they wrote.
Su has come beneath extra hearth from Republican senators after one in all her underlings stated a visa program utilized by American farmers was rampant with “traffickers” and “wage theft.”
Biden, 80, has not too long ago enlisted former Labor Secretary Tom Perez and Democratic adviser Gene Sperling to barter labor conflicts, implying a scarcity of religion in Su, in accordance with Cassidy.
“The president sidelining Acting Secretary Julie Su doesn’t display he has confidence in his personal Labor nominee,” Ty Bofferding, the Republican spokesman for HELP Committee, informed The Post. “We don’t want a labor secretary who has to outsource her personal job.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) publicly opposed Su’s affirmation final week, and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) signaled her opposition as effectively.
“Joe Biden must face the info on Julie Su and withdraw her nomination.” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) informed The Post. “She has unified opposition from Republicans, each small enterprise in America, and now a number of Senate Democrats. It’s clear that her nomination isn’t going wherever, and the President is losing his time making an attempt to string alongside this unqualified nominee. He should nominate somebody that may really pay attention and perceive all sides of enterprise, employees, and who really has a observe report of success — not like Ms. Su.”
“Julie Su is overtly hostile to American companies and employees, notably part-time gig employees who’re merely making an attempt to make ends meet. She helps forcing unionization on American employees towards their will,” Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) additionally informed The Post. “Bottom line: Julie Su shouldn’t be the following Secretary of Labor.”
Biden’s former labor secretary, Marty Walsh, resigned in February to turn into govt director of the National Hockey League Players’ Association.
