Manchin deals major blow to Su’s confirmation as Biden’s Labor pick.

Sen. Joe Manchin Deals Major Blow to Julie Su’s Confirmation as Labor Secretary

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) made a significant announcement on Thursday afternoon, revealing his opposition to Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su’s nomination for the top job. This decision deals a major blow to Su’s chances of being confirmed.

President Joe Biden nominated Su in February to replace former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, who left his post to lead the National Hockey League Players Association. However, her nomination has faced heavy criticism from Senate Republicans and centrist Democrats alike. Much of the criticism stems from her time leading California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency during the pandemic.

During Su’s tenure, the state experienced a staggering amount of fraudulent unemployment claims, ranging from $20 billion to $32 billion. Additionally, around 5 million Californians faced significant delays in receiving their benefits payments. These issues have raised concerns about Su’s ability to effectively lead both labor and industry.

Manchin’s Concerns

“I believe the person leading the U.S. Department of Labor should have the experience to collaboratively lead both labor and industry to forge compromises acceptable to both parties,” Manchin stated in a press release. “While her credentials and qualifications are impressive, I have genuine concerns that Julie Su’s more progressive background prevents her from doing this. For that reason, I cannot support her nomination to serve as Secretary of Labor.”

Su’s nomination has faced significant delays in the Senate due to the refusal of key Democratic swing votes, including Manchin, to support her. With Democrats holding a slim majority in the upper chamber (51-49), any absence or defection provides Republicans with an opportunity to block partisan efforts.

Manchin, along with Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Jon Tester (D-MT), who are also facing tough reelection fights next year, have declined to commit to supporting Su’s nomination. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a Republican who has previously voted for several of Biden’s Cabinet nominees, has also expressed uncertainty about the fate of Su’s nomination.

Tester’s Response

“Is she going to be on the floor? I don’t know,” Tester responded when questioned about Su’s status. “Montanans are still giving me feedback. We’re still going to collect feedback until the 11th hour or so.”

While Manchin’s opposition deals a significant blow to Su’s confirmation chances, there was some positive news for her on Thursday. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) announced his intention to vote for Su after months of remaining silent on the matter.

Mark Kelly’s Support

“I’ve talked through all these issues, and we’re just waiting to see if she gets to the floor,” Kelly stated. “She’s doing the job.”

Despite this support, Su’s path to becoming the Secretary of Labor remains uncertain. The outcome will depend on the decisions of key senators and the dynamics within the Senate.

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