Staff Reports
A White House confirmed nominees often have to sit through tough “murder board” sessions, where aides pretend to be hostile senators grilling them with adversarial questions. But, Julie Su might as well skip the murder board session for her labor secretary nomination because she’s practically a pro at this point. President Biden has all but guaranteed her renomination, and boy, oh boy, is that a controversial move.
Su’s last go-round in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, or HELP, Committee wasn’t exactly a homerun. The committee sent her nomination back to the White House without even taking a vote. Ouch! Critics weren’t shy about calling out her “social justice” activism and other concerns. The Senate didn’t waste any time rejecting her nomination, and who could blame them?
Biden renominates Julie Su for labor secretary after prior confirmation bumps https://t.co/3HaxCpRgNx pathetic
— Tim (@Tim35850516) January 5, 2024
Senator Bill Cassidy, a ranking member on the HELP Committee, didn’t hold back in his criticism. He pointed out that Su’s nomination lasted a whopping 281 days, the longest any cabinet-level nominee has waited without a floor vote when the president’s party controls the White House and the Senate. Cassidy clearly thinks it’s time for Biden to throw in the towel and find a new nominee.
Even some Democrats aren’t feeling the Su love. Senator Joe Manchin, a centrist Democrat from West Virginia, isn’t exactly Su’s number one fan. He’s got some serious reservations about her push for California’s AB 5 legislation that tried to put the kibosh on independent contracting. And now, the Department of Labor is thinking about pulling a similar stunt at the federal level. Yikes!
Biden can try to slide Su back in without a fight, but it won’t be a cakewalk. He’s got his work cut out for him with Republicans and some of his own party members standing against her nomination. Biden’s trying to pull a fast one by keeping Su in the game indefinitely, and it’s not going unnoticed. And don’t even get started on the fact that she’s been acting labor secretary since last March when the previous secretary took off for an executive gig with the NHL Players’ Association. It’s like deja vu all over again from the Trump administration. The Trumpster can’t keep away from the spotlight, can he?
But here’s the kicker – the Biden administration isn’t holding back on their political shenanigans. They’re setting the stage for the 2024 campaign and prepping for a showdown with former President Donald Trump. This isn’t just about Su sliding into the labor secretary role; it’s about the political bigwigs flexing their muscles. Labor unions are a major player in Democratic voter turnout, so Su’s nomination isn’t just business; it’s personal. The political symbolism is off the charts with this one.
And let’s not forget, the Biden administration has had its fair share of nominee drama. Neera Tanden had to throw in the towel after her nomination to head the Office of Management and Budget went up in flames, all thanks to her fiery rhetoric and close ties to corporate donors. She got a consolation prize as the White House staff secretary, which might sound stuffy, but it’s a major power move.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Biden team went to bat for public interest advocate Gigi Sohn in a year-and-a-half-long fight to get her confirmed for the Federal Communications Commission. But after a lot of hoopla and failed lobbying, she threw in the towel last March. The Biden squad just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to these nominees, now can they?
And there you have it, folks. The political rollercoaster ride of Julie Su’s nomination for labor secretary. Strap in, because it’s going to be a bumpy one!
