Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) on Thursday used her authority to place a hold on President Barack Obama’s nominee to become the next Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director, Jacob ‘Jack’ Lew. The Louisiana Democrat said she would block Lew’s confirmation until the administration either lifts or significantly alters a six-month moratorium it placed on offshore deepwater drilling.
“Although Mr. Lew clearly possesses the expertise necessary to serve as one of the President’s most important economic advisors, I found that he lacked sufficient concern for the host of economic challenges confronting the Gulf Coast,” Sen. Landrieu wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
“The fact that the most acute of these economic challenges, the moratorium, results from a direct (and reversible) federal action only serves to harden my stance on Mr. Lew’s nomination. I cannot support further action on Mr. Lew’s nomination to be a key economic advisor to the President until I am convinced that the President and his Administration understand the detrimental impacts that the actual and de facto moratoria continue to have on the Gulf Coast.”
Before Landrieu announced her hold, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 22-1 to confirm Lew and send his nomination to the floor.