CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
June 12, 2012 – 10:41 p.m.
Attempt to Save a Nomination May Be Seen as Mainly Symbolic
By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff
Senate Democratic leaders are planning a new and perhaps symbolic effort to salvage the nomination of Mari Carmen Aponte to be ambassador to El Salvador.
Senior Democratic aides said that Majority Leader
But since opponents are unlikely to grant the unanimous consent needed to allow the nomination to come up without a cloture vote — and because there is no indication of widespread softening of GOP opposition that would allow Democratic leaders to muster the necessary 60 votes — Reid’s move is likely to be seen as primarily an election year gesture to Hispanic voters.
An effort last December to limit debate on the nomination fell short on a party-line 49-37 vote.
“We need some help on the Republican side,” said Majority Whip
Fourteen senators did not vote in December, and Reid and his team are hoping to pick up a vote from
“Since the administration addressed his policy concerns, I expect he will vote for the nomination,” the aide said.
But
Aponte, an attorney and former federal affairs director for the government of Puerto Rico, received a recess appointment from President Obama to serve as ambassador to El Salvador in 2010, but the duration of recess appointments is limited, and hers expired at the end of 2011.
Aponte’s nomination is backed by the Hispanic National Bar Association, which has praised her work in promoting development, security and human rights during her temporary tenure as ambassador.
The group represents Hispanic attorneys, judges, scholars and law students in the United States and its territories.
Similar Republican objections prevented Aponte’s confirmation when she was nominated by President Bill Clinton to be ambassador to the Dominican Republic.
Attempt to Save a Nomination May Be Seen as Mainly Symbolic
Blunt called Reid’s effort to revive the nomination an ill-considered move to woo Hispanic voters in the fall. “I don’t know why else they would bring it up,” he said.
“Surely, they don’t think she can be confirmed,” Blunt said. “I don’t think it appeals to Cuban voters. I don’t think it appeals to Hispanic voters.”