Unnamed GOP Senator Blocking Appointment Of Key Bailout Overseer

[babylonsister]

Unnamed GOP Senator Blocking Appointment Of Key Bailout Overseer
By Zachary Roth - November 28, 2008, 12:52PM


Here's an interesting nugget in Congress's response to the financial crisis that hasn't received as much attention as it deserves.

Earlier this month, the Bush administration nominated Neil Barofsky, a federal prosecutor, to be the Treasury Department's special inspector general on the bailout program. That's a crucial post, given the astronomical sums at issue, the broad authority that Treasury has been given to distribute them, the concerns that have been raised about possible conflicts of interest, and the general urgency of our efforts to prevent an economic collapse.

So you'd think Congress would be doing everything it could to get Barofsky confirmed right away. You'd be wrong.

Last week, Sen. Chris Dodd, the Connecticut Democrat who chairs the banking committee, issued a little-noticed statement saying that although the nomination "was cleared by members of the Senate Banking Committee, the leadership of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and all Democratic Senators," it was "blocked on the floor by at least one Republican member." (itals ours.)

more...

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/unnamed_gop_senator_blocking_a.php

[annabanana]

1. What, exactly, is the mechanism by which a single member of the Senate

can bring something to a grinding halt all my him (or her) self? I am really curious . . . what is that device and how did it come to be?

[Old Codger]

3. also

Why would it remain??? More gutless congress-persons? I am sure they all want it to stay in place for their own eventual use

[Vincardog]

4. I believe the Senate allows any Senator to place a "Hold" on any thing

[annabanana]

5. Is it a Senate "rule"? . .or some misguided "courtesy"?

It HAS to be infuriating.

[ThomWV]

6. Not sure myself but I thought it was only for appointments from the Senator's state

If the person to be nominated was a federal prosecutor in Florida, as an example, then the Senators from Florida would both have to give him or her a pass before the nomination could go forward. I think that's how it works, but not sure.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. Kick and rec for more attention! n/t

[bonito]

7. Dig in for shure n/t

[DCKit]

8. The MSM would have us believe the market is begging for regulation....

but the second some "hardliner"'s name is mentioned, they freak,

Hmm. I is so confuded.

[madokie]

9. I suspect it may be none other than dr tom Coburn from OK

he's a bastard like that

[DCKit]

10. Jeebus, you guys. This must be the first qualified Republic nominated in this admin.

What else can they do but block it.

As much as I hate to admit it, individual Republicans aren't completely EVIL and would be registered Dems if they knew better. Edumacation folks, it's up to U.S..

On the other hand, I can't wait to ask mom and her cronies why they voted for Gramps&Gidget. Yes, those rural types are OK with meth labs in their back yards, but you know the countries going to go to hell with a black man in the white house. It's not the drugs that cause the problems, it's that evil rap music and Obama is going to make it mandatory.

X-mas is gonna be a hoot.