GOP blocks Obama Interior nominee

Posted: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:22 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Congress, Republicans

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Senate Republicans have successfully stalled the confirmation of President Obama's nominee to the No. 2 post at the Interior Department, David Hayes. On a procedural vote that required 60 votes to advance the nomination, most Republicans united to opposes the nomination. The vote was 57-39.

Hayes' chief opponents are Republican Sens. Bob Bennett (UT) and Lisa Murkowski (AK). They're concerned about the Interior Department's management of federal lands in the West, specifically oil and gas development.

At this point, it's unclear what happens next to Hayes' nomination. In the past, administrations have made concessions or not-so-subtle guarantees to the chief opponents in hopes of alleviating concerns. Yesterday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar sent letter to Bennett and Murkowski, vowing to address their concerns moving forward once Hayes was concerned.

But it clearly wasn't enough.

*** UPDATE *** Per NBC's Kelly O'Donnell, Salazar issued this statement in response to the block on Hayes: "This was a tired vote of bitter obstructionism. It may be uncomfortable for some to watch us have to clean up mess after mess -- from corruption to lawbreaking -- that is the previous administration's legacy at Interior, but to cast a vote against such a qualified and fine person is the height of cynicism."

"We have answered every question and worked to find common ground on difficult issues, but the American people rightfully want change from the Obama administration and from the Department of the Interior. We will deliver that change. The American people will know, once again, that the Department of the Interior is wisely managing their treasured landscapes and their natural resources on their behalf."

*** UPDATE 2 *** A procedural vote requiring 60 votes to advance the nomination for Hayes to be the No. 2 at the Interior Department failed today, in part, because three Senate Democrats were not here for the vote. The vote was 57-39, with two Republicans joining the Democrats. (It would have been 58 votes in support, but Majority Leader Harry Reid switched his vote to "no" for procedural reason in order to call for a vote again later.)

Democratic Sens. Kerry, Mikulski and Kennedy were not present for today's vote. Republicans Kyl and Snowe voted with the remaining Democrats in a losing effort to advance the nomination.

At a news conference after the vote, No. 2 Senate Democrat Dick Durbin predicted Hayes would be confirmed next week, when the absent Democrats return (assuming Kyl and Snowe don't flip).

So it begged the question: why didn't Democratic leaders hold off on the vote until everyone was present, instead of taking a defeat today? "Quite honestly we didn't know it would be a defeat," Durbin said. "We'd hoped there'd be more Republican members that would have joined us."

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Comments

From Washington Monthly:

'...It has always seemed obvious to me that Don't Ask, Don't Tell is immoral and discriminatory. But I've never understood why it isn't clear that it's also an insult to the professionalism of the military. The very idea that our soldiers should not be quite capable of subordinating their personal beliefs to the needs of their unit is as insulting. The idea that if some of them can't, we should fire the people they object to rather than the ones who cannot be counted on to put their jobs first is just bizarre.

That said, I am wary of asking Obama to simply set aside a law, however misguided. I didn't like it when Bush did that, and I don't like it now. The idea of suspending it while the administration "studies" it seems like a disingenuous way to get around the law. The Palm Center (pdf) has a better idea:

"The President has the authority to issue an executive order halting the operation of "don't ask, don't tell." Under 10 U.S.C. Â§ 12305 ("Authority of the President to Suspend Certain Laws Relating to Promotion, Retirement, and Separation"), Congress grants the President authority to suspend the separation of military members during any period of national emergency in which members of a reserve component are serving involuntarily on active duty."

I am not a lawyer, so I don't know whether this would work, but if it could, Obama should use it. (Unlike the idea of studying DADT, this would not be a dodge: we do need, for instance, Arabic linguists like Lt. Choi.)

Whether or not Obama can legally suspend DADT, though, Congress plainly can. HR 1283, which would repeal DADT, is still in committee. Nancy Pelosi should move it as quickly as possible. While Congress dawdles, people's careers are being ended. And that's not right...'

I served in the Army from 66 - 70
Honorable discharge Sgt E-5

The dentist who put in my bridge work was obviously gay
That didn't matter to me
He did good work
This was 1967

'...A 2006 Zogby International poll of military members found that 26% were in favor of gays and lesbians serving in the military, 37% opposed gays and lesbians serving, and 37% expressed no preference or were unsure...'

This sounds like a pretty divided set of opinions
Maybe you Vox Populi for our military, InTheMiddle
Who knew ??

MSierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:29 AM)

Ahhhhhhhhhh . . .

Nothing like BLOCKING something, anything to make you feel RELEVEANT!

Way to flex your muscles GOP - woo hoo!

America is clearly a better place now that this obscure nominee has been blocked . . . we can all rest a little easier.

Oh brother . . .

Nashivlle_fan (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:31 AM)

The hard right GOP will eventually become extinct in the West. As for Alaska, well who knows or cars. They are short sighted in their thinking, and people living out west are starting to appreciate how saving the public lands from the likes of Exxon is a good idea. Should the GOP be proud? At least the party of NO has a perfect record!

LB, Virginia (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:32 AM)

And the Republican response is to hold up the appointment of an official that Bennett's own office admits is qualified, thus preventing the government from actually governing just so the Republican can make their point. Evidently they're enjoying this 'Party of No' tag. If they keep us, the Dems will be well above 60 senate seats after the 2010 elections.

Paul, Danville KY (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:33 AM)

Just add it to the heap of things that is causing the downfall of the GOP. Sounds like things are personal.

GP NW Indiana (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:35 AM)

GOP: Fighting for corruption!

Greg, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:35 AM)

This is super sick!!! for OIL are you serious!!! there are so many lease deals out there so stop playing games.

ted (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:39 AM)

Isn't murkowski one of those idiot republicans who thinks that Alaska is their own deal? Its a shame real America is being held hostage by someone from the dumbest state in the union...oh well

Enos the Eskimo (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:41 AM)

Once again, GOP = Party of NO

GOP are the Whigs of the 21st century (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:41 AM)

They want to drill oil where??? Paging T. Boone Pickens and Ted Turner....Paging T.Boone and Ted....!!

Barbara C. - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:43 AM)

What a pity! The Grand Ol' Party! They have no dignity left. They are tired, old and angry because they are running around in dirty diapers and can't figure out how to get changed!! Quick! Depends'll do it! (Hey, this would make a great commercial!)

JJ, Cary, NC (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:46 AM)

As an independent voter who has always voted for who I felt was the best candidate regardless of pary, I've become disgusted with the immature behavior of the derrogatory labeling, name calling, embarassing and demeaning people who oppose dem views. In 30 years I don't remember them behaving this badly. If they don't begin exhibiting more tolerance and be respectful towards people with different views, I will not continue voting as I have in the past. I'm embarassed at their behavior.

Michele Phelps Denver Colorado (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:54 AM)

Keep it up, Repubs. 2010 can't come soon enough. Irrelevant is not a slogan that sells.

Salazar is a good guy. He should have stayed in the Senate, the bureaucracy in the Interior will leave him frustrated for many years.

Card carrying Native America, I can completely speak to the amount of inefficiency in this department in the recent 8 years, compared to previous administrations. Bush and Co decided so many branches were insignificant and sent the resources to ill-gotten wars and disastrous foreign policy attempts, instead of focusing on the whole cabinet and domestic issues. The frayed edges show the wear and tear of such ill thought out 'planning'.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:54 AM)

It is abundantly clear that the Republican party is going to obstruct anything and everything they can. There is only one solution. The Democrats must begin to retaliate. Push forward all legislation and the Whitehouse needs to use all their authority to right and forward all policies they can that would be objectionable to the right without acknowledging them. Maybe when they are choking on their loses they will finally wake up. They will then have to come begging and I would make them publicly apologize and acknowledge their obstructionism. Elections have consequences and we won!

Drew, Cincinnati, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:58 AM)

Hey, I know! "Drill, baby Drill!".
Oil IS, after all, a finite resource. Why not deplete it all that much sooner?
Boy- would I make a great 'me-first' Repub, or what??

Buzz (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:58 AM)

After the next election, nobody will ever have to think about the Republicans again.

Thomas Mc (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:00 PM)

Typical

Ex park service (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:03 PM)

How dare President Obama nominate someone that isn't in the pocket of the oil and coal industry.

Do you mean to tell me that he wants to put someone in that actually looks at the LONG TERM benefit to the American people?

That is so outrageous!

GOP . . .

The pro-torture,
health care for the rich,
rape the land,
say NO to everything Party!

Chris - IL (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:05 PM)

Its a shame real America is being held hostage by someone from the dumbest state in the union...oh well
---------------------------------------------------
'Real America'? Isn't that the term that Dems castigated people for last year?

Real American (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:07 PM)

How many more appointments are going to be held up, while the U.S. goes to hell in a handbasket, before Harry Reid faces up to the fact that the filibuster rule needs changing? One suggestion: Reverse the onus so that at least 40 votes are required to keep a filibuster going. That way, they have to crawl out of the woodwork and face the light of day. Other possibilities abound to keep the filibuster in some form.

Observerinvancouver (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:09 PM)

Interior,,,,The Bush Admin version of Animal House,the boys and girls at interior partyed harty with the Oil companys whores,snorted there coke,took gifts from the Oilers,partyed like it was 1999.So to say it needs a clean up would be a under statement.But at least they didn't board anyone.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:10 PM)

The GOP is a DISGRACE. They play childish games while the country needs All hands on deck
this is disgusting

Nj (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:16 PM)

It's funny to hear those on the left continually throwing out this "Party of NO" garbage. Uhhh...what do you think the Dems were doing during the bulk of the Bush Administration?

Dookie (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:21 PM)

Another fine display of "Country First" republican style.

My seven year old displays more social maturity than the republicans do.

This is exactly why they lost so resoundingly in the last election, and why they will continue to lose.

Jilli, houston, tx (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:33 PM)

GOP is RIP - party of NO - party of tax cuts for the top 1% - party of Hoovernomics and Drill Baby drill - well your party is OVER and please keep up this wonderful behaviour so that you go the way of the Whig and Federalist parties - time to sod off..

SWL (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:51 PM)

It's funny to hear those on the left continually throwing out this "Party of NO" garbage. Uhhh...what do you think the Dems were doing during the bulk of the Bush Administration?
Dookie (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:21 PM)

That's because most of the dunce's picks were/are idiots. Remember Brownie, Remember Harriet and the Best Of All----- ALBERTO GONZALES!!!!!!!!!!

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:52 PM)

From the AP versio of the story, 2 Republicans voted for, 1 Democrat voted against, and 3 Democrats did not show up to vote.
Looks like another case of the Democrats not getting their act together.

Ken, Glen Allen, Va (Sent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 1:12 PM)

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