Senate panels advance Trump’s picks for labour, agriculture

Trump’s attempts to fill the top post at Labor have been especially fraught.

The first choice, fast food CEO Andrew Puzder, was beset by problems in Puzder’s background that ultimately alienated enough Republicans to push confirmation out of reach. Puzder struggled to come up with a plan to divest himself from his financial interests if confirmed. And he acknowledged having employed a housekeeper who was not authorized to work in the U.S., paying the related taxes five years after firing the worker — and then, only after Trump nominated him.

Puzder withdrew his name from consideration in mid-February. Two days later, Trump nominated Acosta.

The president and Senate Republicans stressed that Acosta had been confirmed by the Senate three times — to the Justice Department, the National Labor Relations Board and as South Florida’s federal prosecutor. That meant that unlike Puzder, Acosta had received some vetting that passed muster with the Senate that is now considering him for a fourth post — Labor secretary.

At his confirmation hearing, the 48-year-old dean of Florida International University law school said he would stand up to any political pressure from the White House and promised to be a fair arbiter of disputes at the agency. But Democrats, led by Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, said they were concerned that he would just take orders from Trump, who he called his “boss.” They pointed to a Justice Department’s inspector general report that said Acosta had insufficiently supervised an employee who was using political tests in hiring.

Perdue, 70, gained bipartisan support during his confirmation hearing by stressing that he has worked with Democrats in the past. He tried to reassure farm-state senators in both parties who are fearful about the impact of Trump’s proposed deep cuts to farm programs.

Perdue also told senators concerned about Trump’s agenda that “trade is really the answer” for farmers dealing with low crop prices. He said he would be a “tenacious advocate and fighter” for rural America when dealing with the White House and other agencies.

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Follow Kellman and Jalonick on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/MCJalonick and http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman

Laurie Kellman And Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Senate panels advance Trump’s picks for labour, agriculture

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