Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin declared on Thursday that he will reject Julie Su’s candidacy to be secretary of labor, claiming that her “progressive background” would make it impossible for her to broker agreements between labor and business officials.
In a statement, Manchin said that the labor commissioner ” ought to have had the opportunity to jointly lead both industries and labor to forge solutions acceptable for both parties” and added that he had worries that “Su’s more liberal background prohibits her from doing this.”
Julie Su Loses Major Supporter
Julie Su, a civil rights attorney, and former California labor inspector who has been a deputy labor secretary since 2021, was nominated by President Joe Biden in February to be the new labor secretary. Su formerly held the position of labor secretary for California.
Marty Walsh, who vacated the position in March to lead the players’ union for the National Hockey League, was replaced by her. When Walsh resigned as secretary, Su took over.
With the assistance of three independent senators, Democrats have a slim 51-49 majority in the Senate. Su doesn’t have any Republican support. Su cannot be confirmed without Republican backing if Manchin and Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a former Democrat who became an independent in December, oppose her.
According to a White House official, Su is “highly competent and skilled and demonstrated herself repeatedly and again when it involves providing for America’s employees and our economy,” which is why Biden and his aides kept pushing for her confirmation.
The White House representative said, “The president’s support for Acting Secretary Su is steadfast, and we pray Senator Manchin and Senator Sinema reconsider their views.
When asked if she had an opinion on Su, a representative for Sinema responded that the senator ” does not anticipate her votes.”
Julie Su participated in key contract negotiations last month between the union covering 22,000 workers and the employers of U.S. West Coast seaports. Su’s nomination has been waiting ever since a Senate committee decided to move it despite party lines in April.