Good morning.
Busy day. The Senate is going to vote to shut off debate on the confirmation of Hilda Solis as Secretary of Labor. Now, in my view, when the Republicans force a cloture vote, it means they've been filibustering, silently filibustering, but filibustering nonetheless. Apparently, that word isn't used by the traditional media or Senate Democrats to call out the actions of the obstructionist Republicans. But, today, there will be a vote to end the filibuster of Hilda Solis' confirmation, which should garner the necessary 60 votes. Republicans really don't want a pro-worker Secretary of Labor. Meteor Blades at DailyKos wrote of Solis:
Solis would arguably be the most liberal appointee in Obama's Cabinet. Daughter of immigrant father who became a Teamster organizer at a battery recycling factory and an immigrant mother who worked a factory line, she's never been one to give mere lip service to labor issues. She was a key player in a hard-won voter-initiative fight over the California minimum wage, an increase of which then-Gov. Pete Wilson had vetoed. She's been solidly behind environmental protections, particularly in the arena of environmental justice. Having been raised near a landfill east of Los Angeles, she authored 1999 state legislation that called for "the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws," the first such law in the nation.I'd call this one a big win for he good guys and girls. No wonder the Republicans have been apoplectic over her nomination.
The President gives a big speech tonight at the Capitol. Yesterday, he had a fiscal responsibility summit at the White House, which included a bunch of Republicans. Whenever a Republican got the mike, they sounded like little whiners -- and those male GOP House members really, really don't like Nancy Pelosi. They think she's mean to them. What a bunch of whiny wimps.
Okay...let's get this day rolling. I have to take Petey out and it's 23 degrees but feels like 10. Ouch.
