Senate approves Lew as new Treasury chief

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON | Wed Feb 27, 2013 6:13pm EST

(Reuters) - The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Jack Lew as President Barack Obama's new treasury secretary, putting the former White House chief of staff in the middle of a bitter political fight over the government's budget.

Senators backed Lew in a 71-26 vote, with the nominee capturing all of the chamber's 53 Democrats. Some Republicans had expressed misgivings about Lew's perks from previous employers Citigroup and New York University.

Lew's most pressing task will be to find a compromise to lessen the economic blow from $85 billion in government spending cuts that are set to kick in on Friday.

(Reporting by Anna Yukhananov and Rachelle Younglai; editing by Christopher Wilson)

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/27/us-usa-congress-lew-idUSBRE91P0KV20130227

[TwilightGardener]

1. Congratulations, Secretary Lew.

He of the Loopy Signature--don't change it!

[HERVEPA]

2. yup. Congrats to another bankster.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Oh fer gawdsakes. Let's give him a chance.

[OKNancy]

7. 18 months out of a whole career makes one a bankster?

[jaysunb]

8. Should we have hired a farmer or mechanic for this job?

I sometimes don't understand how people think.....

[freshwest]

11. Teahadist dolts say getting rid of the Federal Reserve and IRS is the only answer to the bankers.

They would like to see one of the Pauls in place, YIKES.

But I propose that we hold back the Idiocracy as long as we can...

[JeffHead]

3. Why wouldn't they.

He's a wall street rat just like Timmy boy and now he's in charge of the cheese. Status quo maintained. Nothing will change

[alp227]

9. +1, a union buster also, as Mike Malloy discussed last month!

[Scuba]

4. What? No Bengazi questions for the Citigroup revolving door guy?

[Jumpin Jack Fletch]

13. BAM!

[OKNancy]

5. All Democrats voted for him, including Elizabeth Warren

[freshwest]

12. Well, now she'll be off the Christmas Card list for some, I guess.

Until she knows something we don't, and I'll bet that she does...

[Leslie Valley]

10. Not everyone is thrilled