NYer tapped for D.C. labor post hits wall
Monday, October 05, 2009
- Organization: Crain's New York Business
- Link: http://www.crainsnewyork.com
A Wyoming senator has vowed to continue his efforts to block the nomination of New York's labor commissioner to a top Obama administration post, despite requests from New York's congressional delegation and local business groups asking that he back the president's choice of M. Patricia Smith as solicitor at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Republican Sen. Mike Enzi, the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, plans to vote against the nomination of Ms. Smith as the Labor Department's top law enforcement officer on Wednesday, citing alleged inconsistencies in her testimony about a New York City pilot program that he contends enlisted unions and community groups to help enforce labor laws.
Since there are 13 Democrats and 10 Republicans on the Senate Health committee, the nomination is likely to pass on Wednesday, but the senator says he'll place a hold on Ms. Smith's nomination should it reach the Senate floor— a move that would force cloture, requiring 60 votes and 30 additional hours of debate.
In August, Mr. Enzi wrote to Mr. Obama asking him to withdraw the nomination, accusing Ms. Smith of providing statements to Health committee members about New York's Wage and Hour Watch program that contradicted documents she later provided to the committee.
Since, then, the senator has received more than a dozen letters from local business organizations, elected officials and advocacy groups—including ones from the Partnership for New York City, the state's entire congressional delegation and the state's district attorneys association—citing Ms. Smith's qualifications and integrity.
(Please click link to read full story)

