Enzi to Place Hold Obama's Solicitor Of Labor

Big Labor supported Obama nominee for Solicitor of Labor, Patricia Smith, will have to wait before she is confirmed.  Based on her “lack of candor” and the results of the U.S. Senate committee’s investigation, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) intends to place a hold on Smith’s nomination.  Smith’s testimony conflicted with records from the Big Labor – NY State partnership that she created.  Her program called New York Wage Watch jointly targeted non-union employers, essentially deputizing union officials.  Sen. Enzi’s full release below:

 

Enzi Stands Firm in Opposition to Solicitor Nominee

HELP Ranking Member Will Hold Smith Nomination on Senate Floor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee met today to consider four White House nominees, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), the Committee’s Ranking Member, maintained his opposition to Patricia Smith, the Administration’s choice to serve as Solicitor at the U.S. Dept. of Labor.

“The nomination of Patricia Smith to be Solicitor of Labor brings me great concern,” said Enzi. “Her lack of candor during her hearing and responses to subsequent questions posed by the Committee has resulted in a lack of confidence regarding her ability to effectively run the Solicitor’s office. This breach of our trust cannot be brushed aside by claiming the questions involve a pilot program or that the responsibility rests solely with her Deputy.”

Enzi intends to place a hold on Smith’s nomination as it heads to the Senate floor following Committee passage and led the Republican members of the Committee in unanimously voicing concern over Smith’s nomination earlier this week.

Enzi supported White House Labor Department nominees Joseph Main and William Spriggs to be Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health and Assistant Secretary for Policy respectively and noted his support for all 32 prior White House nominees considered by the HELP Committee this year.

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U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee
COMMITTEE WEBSITE | SENATOR ENZI’S OFFICE