After months of waiting, and after some tense moments over whether the Democrats in the Senate would fundamentally change the rules of the Senate, Thomas Perez was confirmed as new Secretary of Labor on July 18, 2013. Senate Republicans had been blocking Mr. Perez's confirmation since May, but his nomination finally was approved after both parties agreed to proceed to a vote on a number of controversial nominations. Senate Democrats had threatened to implement the "nuclear option" in regard to presidential appointments by changing senate rules to thwart any possible filibuster on such nominations, but a compromise was reached at the last second, and a number of President Obama's appointees, including Mr. Perez, were approved during the week of July 15.
Mr. Perez faces a number of challenges upon joining the Department of Labor. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and other DoL agencies have a variety of controversial proposals that are waiting for final publication. Among the proposed rules awaiting action are OFCCP's proposed revisions to the regulations regarding veterans and persons with disabilities. When (or if) these proposals will see the light of day remains unknown. Mr. Perez also needs to determine whether there will be any changes in the leadership team at DoL. While nothing has been said in this regard, Mr. Perez appears to have a strong relationship with OFCCP head Patricia Shiu, and we expect she will continue in her role at OFCCP.
Showing posts with label Secretary of Labor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Secretary of Labor. Show all posts
Monday, July 29, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Perez Nomination Approved by Senate Committee
On Thursday, May 16, President Obama's nominee to be Secretary of Labor, Thomas Perez, won approval from a divided senate panel. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted, 12-10, with all Democratic members of the committee voting in favor and all Republican members voting against.
The nomination now moves to the Senate floor, where Mr. Perez must win final confirmation before assuming the Secretary of Labor post.
(Information for this post was taken in part from various news reports available on the web at sites including Politico and the Washington Post.)
The nomination now moves to the Senate floor, where Mr. Perez must win final confirmation before assuming the Secretary of Labor post.
(Information for this post was taken in part from various news reports available on the web at sites including Politico and the Washington Post.)
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Perez Nomination Delayed Again (Updated)
The Thomas Perez confirmation vote in the senate committee charged with overseeing his nomination has been delayed yet again. Scheduled for a vote on Wednesday, May 8, the nominee for Secretary of Labor will be waiting until at least Thursday, May 16, to see if his nomination moves forward to the full Senate.
In light of the growing animosity between congressional Republicans and the White House over a variety of subjects, including the I.R.S.'s treatment of tea party groups and other conservative organizations, it is unclear what kind of action will be taken on any of the President's nominations, including the Perez nomination. Mr. Perez's nomination is further complicated by concerns raised by Republicans about his handling of certain issues while at the Department of Justice.
It is also unclear what the continuing absence of a Secretary of Labor may mean to OFCCP. As we've noted in a previous post, OFCCP may be reluctant to move forward with a number of major initiatives until there is someone leading the Department of Labor who can approve these initiatives. Among the major initiatives still on the table for OFCCP are the agency's proposed revisions to its regulations regarding veterans and persons and persons with disabilities. However, the agency was willing to issue a major new directive on compensation even though there was no Secretary of Labor in place. We will wait to see what happens in the Senate and how OFCCP handles the continuing absence of a Secretary of Labor.
(Information for this post was taken in part from various news reports available on the web at sites including Politico and the Washington Post.)
In light of the growing animosity between congressional Republicans and the White House over a variety of subjects, including the I.R.S.'s treatment of tea party groups and other conservative organizations, it is unclear what kind of action will be taken on any of the President's nominations, including the Perez nomination. Mr. Perez's nomination is further complicated by concerns raised by Republicans about his handling of certain issues while at the Department of Justice.
It is also unclear what the continuing absence of a Secretary of Labor may mean to OFCCP. As we've noted in a previous post, OFCCP may be reluctant to move forward with a number of major initiatives until there is someone leading the Department of Labor who can approve these initiatives. Among the major initiatives still on the table for OFCCP are the agency's proposed revisions to its regulations regarding veterans and persons and persons with disabilities. However, the agency was willing to issue a major new directive on compensation even though there was no Secretary of Labor in place. We will wait to see what happens in the Senate and how OFCCP handles the continuing absence of a Secretary of Labor.
(Information for this post was taken in part from various news reports available on the web at sites including Politico and the Washington Post.)
Saturday, April 27, 2013
OMB Head Confirmed; Labor Secretary Confirmation on Hold
Confirmation hearings for two people who may have a significant effect on OFCCP went in significantly different directions this week. While the new head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was confirmed on a unanimous vote of the Senate on Wednesday, April 24, a committee vote on the confirmation of President Obama's nominee to be Secretary of Labor was put on hold until at least May 8.
Sylvia Mathews Burwell was confirmed to head OMB on a 96 to 0 vote in the Senate. Ms. Burwell previously served as deputy budget director at OMB during the Clinton administration. Ms. Burwell will have a significant number of items on her plate as she begins her tenure at OMB, including oversight for recent budget proposals by the White House and management of various regulatory initiatives by federal agencies. Ms. Burwell's selection is important in the OFCCP context because OFCCP has a number of proposed regulations, including its massive proposed changes to the regulations concerning veterans and persons with disabilities, that are awaiting approval by OMB.
More important to OFCCP is the continuing absence of a Secretary of Labor. Thomas Perez, who is President Obama's choice to fill the role of the departed Hilda Solis, has run into opposition from Republican members of the Senate. Perez's nomination was supposed to go before the full Senate by the end of April, but instead the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee scheduled another day of hearings on May 8. While Perez appears to still have the support of the President, it is not clear when or if his nomination will receive a full vote by the Senate.
The absence of a Secretary of Labor is important in a number of ways to OFCCP. First, the agency may be reluctant to move forward a number of major initiatives until there is someone leading the Department of Labor who can approve these initiatives. Second, a new Secretary of Labor, whether it is Thomas Perez or someone else, may have different ideas about where OFCCP should focus its attention. It is even possible that a new Secretary of Labor may decide that there should be a new leader at OFCCP.
(Information for this post was taken in part from various news reports available on the web at sites like Politico and the Huffington Post.)
Sylvia Mathews Burwell was confirmed to head OMB on a 96 to 0 vote in the Senate. Ms. Burwell previously served as deputy budget director at OMB during the Clinton administration. Ms. Burwell will have a significant number of items on her plate as she begins her tenure at OMB, including oversight for recent budget proposals by the White House and management of various regulatory initiatives by federal agencies. Ms. Burwell's selection is important in the OFCCP context because OFCCP has a number of proposed regulations, including its massive proposed changes to the regulations concerning veterans and persons with disabilities, that are awaiting approval by OMB.
More important to OFCCP is the continuing absence of a Secretary of Labor. Thomas Perez, who is President Obama's choice to fill the role of the departed Hilda Solis, has run into opposition from Republican members of the Senate. Perez's nomination was supposed to go before the full Senate by the end of April, but instead the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee scheduled another day of hearings on May 8. While Perez appears to still have the support of the President, it is not clear when or if his nomination will receive a full vote by the Senate.
The absence of a Secretary of Labor is important in a number of ways to OFCCP. First, the agency may be reluctant to move forward a number of major initiatives until there is someone leading the Department of Labor who can approve these initiatives. Second, a new Secretary of Labor, whether it is Thomas Perez or someone else, may have different ideas about where OFCCP should focus its attention. It is even possible that a new Secretary of Labor may decide that there should be a new leader at OFCCP.
(Information for this post was taken in part from various news reports available on the web at sites like Politico and the Huffington Post.)
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