Former union leader gets Senate nod to lead agency

[Joanne98]

A former union leader on Monday came a step closer to taking over the state's Department of Labor and Employment.

The Democrat-controlled Senate Committee on Business, Labor and Technology approved the appointment of Ellen Golombek, former president of the Colorado AFL-CIO. Golombek cleared a short confirmation hearing 5-2.

The full Senate will vote next.

All of Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper's Cabinet picks face Senate review, though Democrats control the Senate and Hickenlooper's confirmations aren't in doubt.

Still, fireworks were expected at Golombek's confirmation hearing, because Republicans criticized her as too cozy with unions. The confirmation hearing was short and restrained, but two Republicans on the committee did ask Monday whether Golombek's background in organized labor would cloud her judgment working for the state.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-25/former-union-leader-gets-senate-nod-to-lead-agency.html