Senate GOP calls for Biden withdraw Labor nominee Julie Su after 126 days with out a vote

Senate Republicans are calling on President Biden to drag his nominee to head the Department of Labor, who has languished with out a affirmation vote for a record-setting 126 days.

Senate Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions Committee rating member Invoice Cassidy (R-La.) sent a letter to the president on Thursday that claimed Julie Su was unconstitutionally filling her position and her nomination must be eliminated.

Appearing secretaries are capable of serve not more than 210 days underneath the federal Vacancies Act earlier than being confirmed, however Cassidy claimed a separate Labor Division rule was permitting Su to unlawfully serve “in perpetuity” and with out Senate approval.

“In case your administration believes Ms. Su can’t obtain the mandatory votes for affirmation, then it is best to rescind her nomination,” Cassidy mentioned. “Any makes an attempt to bypass the need of Congress, particularly its constitutionally mandated recommendation and consent position, is unacceptable.” 

The battle over Su has stretched for greater than 4 months, the longest a cabinet-level nominee has waited for affirmation when the identical celebration controls each the Senate and White Home.

On Thursday, Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) highlighted Su’s file as labor secretary of California, the place she oversaw as much as $31.4 billion in fraudulent unemployment benefits through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Mr. President, American taxpayers have seen sufficient of Julie Su. When will Senate Democrats lastly resolve they’ve as nicely?” McConnell mentioned on the Senate ground.

Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), McConnell, Cassidy and 30 different GOP senators claimed in a June 21 letter to Biden that Su instructed California Labor Division staff to cover undocumented staff from Immigration and Customs and Enforcement investigators.

“Her monitor file and unwillingness to offer readability to her previous positions and the actions she would take as Secretary of Labor proceed to lift issues about her nomination,” they wrote.

Su has come underneath extra hearth from Republican senators after one of her underlings said a visa program utilized by American farmers was rampant with “traffickers” and “wage theft.”

Biden, 80, has lately enlisted former Labor Secretary Tom Perez and Democratic adviser Gene Sperling to barter labor conflicts, implying a scarcity of religion in Su, in response to Cassidy.

“The president sidelining Appearing Secretary Julie Su doesn’t display he has confidence in his personal Labor nominee,” Ty Bofferding, the Republican spokesman for HELP Committee, advised The Submit. “We don’t want a labor secretary who has to outsource her personal job.”

In the meantime, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) publicly opposed Su’s affirmation final week, and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) signaled her opposition as nicely.

“Joe Biden must face the info on Julie Su and withdraw her nomination.” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) advised The Submit. “She has unified opposition from Republicans, each small enterprise in America, and now just a few Senate Democrats. It’s clear that her nomination isn’t going anyplace, and the President is losing his time making an attempt to string alongside this unqualified nominee. He should nominate somebody that may truly pay attention and perceive all sides of enterprise, staff, and who truly has a monitor file of success — in contrast to Ms. Su.”

Biden’s former labor secretary, Marty Walsh, resigned in February to turn into government director of the Nationwide Hockey League Gamers’ Affiliation.