President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are still working to whip up votes to confirm Neera Tanden, nominee for director of the Office of Management and Budget, reports CNN.
"I am working with President Biden to find the extra votes so she can be passed," Schumer told reporters during a news conference in New York. "I think she would be a very good OMB leader," he added.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., last week said he opposed Tanden’s nomination and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is also said to be considering voting no, according to close associates of hers who spoke with Axios.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has not yet voiced how he will vote, telling CNN Friday that he would be talking to Tanden “early next week.”
Sanders, the Senate budget committee chairman, during her Senate confirmation hearing rebuked Tanden for her time and administration at the Center for American Progress, the liberal think tank/advocacy group were she has served in a variety of roles since 2003 including president and CEO.
In order to be confirmed to lead OMB, Tanden needs 50 votes, which would let Vice President Kamala Harris break the tie.
Tannen has fielded a wave of criticism from GOP lawmakers over her past comments slamming Republican politicians.
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, last week questioned Tanden at the Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing and asked if she could be bipartisan considering her track record. Portman also read aloud some of Tanden’s insults leveled at various Republican lawmakers, including that "vampires have more heart than (Sen.) Ted Cruz," and that Collins is "the worst."
Tanden apologized, saying, "I deeply regret and apologize for my language and some of my past language."
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