Republicans Suspend Rules to Keep Mnuchin Nomination Moving
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By Nathan Guttman February 1, 2017
Steve Mnuchin is headed to the Treasury with or without approval of Senate Democrats.
On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee gave the Jewish financier the green light toward his confirmation as Treasury Secretary in Donald Trump’s cabinet. The approval was given to Mnuchin outside the committee’s regular procedure after Senate Democrats boycotted the meeting for the second day in a row.
The Committee’s chair, Senator Orin Hatch of Utah, made the unusual move of suspending the rules, allowing members to vote on Mnuchin without Democrats present. Unsurprisingly, all remaining Republicans voted in favor of the Wall Street banker, sending him to the Senate floor with a 14 to 0 vote.
Mnuchin is expected to easily win the approval of the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans. Mnuchin will replace Jack Lew, Obama’s Treasury secretary, who is also Jewish.
During his hearings, Mnuchin faced Democratic criticism for failing to disclose $100 million in assets; for operating an investment fund in a tax haven and for what they perceived as predatory practices during the foreclosure crisis, when he ran a bank.
Contact Nathan Guttman at guttman@forward.com
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