WP: Senators Wyden, Grassley Propose Ending Secret Holds

[flpoljunkie]

Senators propose ending secret holds

If a bipartisan pair of senators get their way, secret holds -- a preferred technique for slowing down executive branch nominees in the Senate -- will become a thing of the past.

The Hill reports that Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) have introduced an amendment to the Wall Street overhaul bill to force senators to attach their names when they place a hold on a nominee.

The amendment would require senators to write to either their Senate Majority Leader or Senate Minority Leader. The written notice would then be required to be published in the congressional record two days later.

As Al Kamen pointed out recently, dozens of President Obama's nominees are awaiting confirmation votes.

By Matt DeLong | May 5, 2010

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/05/senators-propose-ending-secret.html

[Uzybone]

1. even better, get rid of "holds" all together

[DFLforever]

2. That would probably get zero votes.

[hvn_nbr_2]

3. That proposal will get 95+ holds. nt

[karynnj]

4. unnamed holds- of course