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Senate Approves Comey to Lead the F.B.I. Senate Backs F.B.I. Chief And Considers Other Picks
(35 minutes later)
The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed James B. Comey as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday even as Republicans and Democrats struggled to hold together the fragile deal that preserved the minority’s ability to filibuster executive branch appointees. WASHINGTON — The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed James B. Comey as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday even as Republicans and Democrats struggled to hold together the fragile deal that preserved the filibuster for executive branch appointees.
After approving Comey on a 93-to-1 vote — with Rand Paul the only holdout — the Senate was also expected this week to approve Samantha Power as ambassador to the United Nations and the nominees to the National Labor Relations Board as part of the 11th-hour pact that kept Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat and majority leader, from changing the filibuster rules. After approving Mr. Comey on a 93-to-1 vote — with Rand Paul the lone “no” vote — the Senate was also expected this week to approve Samantha Power as ambassador to the United Nations and the nominees to the National Labor Relations Board who were part of the 11th-hour pact that kept Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat and majority leader, from changing the filibuster rules.
But it was unclear how Republican objections to two other nominations — B. Todd Jones to be director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Mel Watt to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency — could threaten the détente with Mr. Reid and Democrats. But it was unclear how Republican objections to two other nominations — those of B. Todd Jones to be director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Mel Watt to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency — could threaten the détente with Mr. Reid and Democrats.
Senators said it seemed increasingly unlikely that Republicans would try to block both. Rather, they are likely to relent on Mr. Jones and save their energy for a bigger fight over Mr. Watt. Many Republicans, still stinging from the perception among their base that they accepted a raw deal, are hardly shy of a new clash.Senators said it seemed increasingly unlikely that Republicans would try to block both. Rather, they are likely to relent on Mr. Jones and save their energy for a bigger fight over Mr. Watt. Many Republicans, still stinging from the perception among their base that they accepted a raw deal, are hardly shy of a new clash.
“There are going to be some filibusters,” said Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, who added that he felt that the administration was being purposely provocative in its choices to run agencies like the A.T.F., which has been at the center of the long-running gun-control debate. “There are going to be some filibusters,” said Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, who added that he felt that the administration was being purposely provocative in its choices to run agencies like A.T.F., which has been at the center of the long-running gun-control debate.
“It’s almost like they pick people just to provoke,” Mr. Hatch said. “And that’s not the way the country should be run. They should be picking the best people they possibly can.”“It’s almost like they pick people just to provoke,” Mr. Hatch said. “And that’s not the way the country should be run. They should be picking the best people they possibly can.”
Mr. Jones’ nomination became far less complicated on Monday after the National Rifle Association said it would remain neutral on his confirmation. Mr. Jones’s nomination became far less complicated on Monday after the National Rifle Association said it would remain neutral on his confirmation.
The gun-rights group had previously not said whether it planned to use how senators vote as a factor in determining the grades it assigns to lawmakers. Doing so would have put pressure on senators who are worried about their N.R.A. rating to vote against Mr. Jones.The gun-rights group had previously not said whether it planned to use how senators vote as a factor in determining the grades it assigns to lawmakers. Doing so would have put pressure on senators who are worried about their N.R.A. rating to vote against Mr. Jones.
The A.T.F. has been without a permanent director since 2006, in large part because of opposition from gun groups like the N.R.A., which view the bureau as too heavy-handed in its regulations of weapons and ammunition. The director job has required Senate confirmation since the Patriot Act was renewed that year and gun-rights advocates persuaded Congress to eliminate the president’s unilateral authority to name one. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been without a permanent director since 2006, in large part because of opposition from gun groups like the N.R.A., which view the bureau as too heavy-handed in its regulations of weapons and ammunition. The director job has required Senate confirmation since the Patriot Act was renewed that year and gun-rights advocates persuaded Congress to eliminate the president’s unilateral authority to name one.
Mr. Jones has been the A.T.F.’s acting director since 2011 and is still serving as the United States attorney for Minnesota while he awaits confirmation. Mr. Jones has been A.T.F.’s acting director since 2011 and is still serving as the United States attorney for Minnesota while he awaits confirmation.
Senators and aides from both parties said that they believed Mr. Jones could be confirmed as early as this week because Republicans appear to be shifting their focus to Mr. Watt, a Democratic congressman from North Carolina. A fight over his confirmation is one that many Republicans seem ready to have. Senators and aides from both parties said that they believed Mr. Jones could be confirmed as early as this week because Republicans appear to be shifting their focus to Mr. Watt, a Democratic congressman from North Carolina.
“A lot of the conversations have been about Congressman Watt more than the A.T.F.,” said Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, who helped negotiate the filibuster deal with Mr. Reid.“A lot of the conversations have been about Congressman Watt more than the A.T.F.,” said Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, who helped negotiate the filibuster deal with Mr. Reid.
The issues with Mr. Watt’s nomination are twofold. First, many Republicans have taken a dim view of the entity he was tapped to lead, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the government’s 12 Federal Home Loan Banks. Conservatives have long believed the business of home lending should be left to the private sector, not the government. The issues with Mr. Watt’s nomination are twofold. First, many Republicans have taken a dim view of the entity he was tapped to lead, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the government’s 12 Federal Home Loan Banks. Conservatives believe that home lending should be left to the private sector, not the government.
Some Republican senators have also said that Mr. Watt, who has been in Congress for two decades, lacks the experience to run such a complex agency.Some Republican senators have also said that Mr. Watt, who has been in Congress for two decades, lacks the experience to run such a complex agency.
“I’ve got to believe there’s a whole host of people in our conference that would have concerns about a politician taking on a role of a regulator,” said Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, who voted against Mr. Watt when his nomination was taken up by the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.“I’ve got to believe there’s a whole host of people in our conference that would have concerns about a politician taking on a role of a regulator,” said Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, who voted against Mr. Watt when his nomination was taken up by the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.
Democrats, who acknowledged that Mr. Watt’s confirmation could ignite another partisan showdown over the filibuster, are warning Republicans to be careful.Democrats, who acknowledged that Mr. Watt’s confirmation could ignite another partisan showdown over the filibuster, are warning Republicans to be careful.
“The old way of simply blocking a nominee because you hate the agency they would run won’t fly anymore,” said Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York.“The old way of simply blocking a nominee because you hate the agency they would run won’t fly anymore,” said Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York.
Republicans say they are under no obligation to approve any of the president’s nominees. The agreement between them and Mr. Reid was merely a handshake pact, and many of them see that fight as a separate issue altogether because it involved higher-ranking administration appointments like cabinet secretaries.Republicans say they are under no obligation to approve any of the president’s nominees. The agreement between them and Mr. Reid was merely a handshake pact, and many of them see that fight as a separate issue altogether because it involved higher-ranking administration appointments like cabinet secretaries.
“I don’t believe we’ve relinquished our ability to put holds on nominees or insist on getting 60 votes,” said Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Senate Republican.“I don’t believe we’ve relinquished our ability to put holds on nominees or insist on getting 60 votes,” said Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Senate Republican.
“It just depends on whether people feel strongly enough that these particular nominees are not suitable,” he added. “And that hasn’t been decided yet.”“It just depends on whether people feel strongly enough that these particular nominees are not suitable,” he added. “And that hasn’t been decided yet.”