I agree with most of your post, but I certainly disagree that we “don’t hear much” about problems with poverty for Native Americans. I sure do. On the reservation and in urban areas.
Biden nominated a trans woman MD to be assistant secretary of health. She had a similar position oi Penn and she was approved unanimously for that job. I assume she will be approved hopefully very few votes against her.
You’re referring to Rachel Levine. And I would not count on it – she was voted out of committee 13-9 with only Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins joining all 11 Democrats. I’d be shocked if she picked up even a couple more Republicans on the floor vote.
Here’s her bio: Rachel Levine - Wikipedia
I hate to be proved right, but Rachel Levine was just confirmed by a vote of 52-48, with only Collins and Murkowski voting aye among all Senate Republicans.
Anti trans hatred is basically a GOP party plank these days.
So far the Senate has confirmed 21 our of 23 Cabinet-level appointments by President Biden. The only unfilled slots are Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (for which Biden has nominated Eric Lander) and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (Biden’s initial nominee, Neera Tanden, withdrew when it was clear she did not have the votes for confirmation. Biden has yet to pick a second nominee.)
Not bad. I know little about the Lander nomination, but it’s been two-and-a-half months since he was nominated and he hasn’t even had his confirmation hearing yet. Wonder what’s going on there.
And because I know everyone has been on tenterhooks over the status of Biden’s nominee for Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, rest assured that Eric Lander was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee earlier today.
Interesting that he has not submitted a new nominee for OMB Director nearly three months after Neera Tanden withdrew her nomination (although it was announced last week that she would take a senior staff position in the White House).
Here’s the updated Wiki page, including a nice, masked-and-socially-distanced portrait of the Cabinet and other top appointments so far:
Not a Cabinet post but an important one. I wouldn’t want his job. Randy Moore to become US Forest Service's first African American chief | CNN Politics
Yeah, given increasing wildfires and politicized disputes over Federal land use, that’s not gonna be an easy gig.
With the benefit of hindsight, I want to say that I am deeply impressed by how effective Biden has been in filling his Cabinet. With Democrats holding the Senate by the skin of their teeth, he’s only had one nominee (Neera Tanden) withdraw because she couldn’t secure enough support to be confirmed. Contrast that with all the trouble Bill Clinton had getting an AG approved when he had 57 Democrats in the Senate.
Good thinking, HL. This is a very important diplomatic gig:
I like this appointment, too:
Interesting. Thoughts?
A Republican ex-senator who never drank the Trump Kool-Ade, and who has at least half a brain. I like it. Good bipartisan gesture.
I’m not a fan of Flake, but as Republicans go, he’s got about as much spine as they come with these days. I agree that it is a good bi-partisan political move. And he’s got some overseas experience, so that’s not nothing.