Solis Approved by Senate Committee

by Jordan Yerman | February 12, 2009 at 01:39 pm

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Hilda Solis, a Democratic congresswoman from California, is now closer to confirmation as Secretary of Labor. The full Senate must now vote on Ms. Solis, whose confirmation hearings were complicated by tax liens against her husband's car repair business.

(Taxes are the big theme with these cabinet hearings)

However, what drew Repubican ire was that Solis was on the board of American Rights at Work, which was promoting a bill that would make it easier for workers to unionize.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee cleared her nomination in a voice vote with only two Republicans voting against her. The action sends the nomination to the full Senate for a final vote likely this week.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee today forwarded the California congresswoman's nomination to the full Senate, which is expected to vote before leaving town for the President's Day recess.

The committee vote was delayed last week after questions about her pro-labor activities and after reports here husband had paid about $6,400 to settle outstanding tax liens against his auto shop. Solis and her husband were not aware of the liens until a newspaper reported them and that Solis was not involved in the business, the White House has said.

Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., issued this statement after the voice vote: "Hilda Solis comes from a working family herself so she understands how the troubled economy is hurting average Americans. American workers deserve to have her voice and her leadership as their Secretary of Labor, and I'm pleased that our committee approved her."

A vote by the full Senate on the nomination s expected this week and can come as early as Thursday. Congress is scheduled to break for a President's Day recess from Feb. 16 to 20.