Sen. Joe Manchin Opposes Neera Tanden’s Nomination to Lead OMB

Mr. Manchin, a centrist who represents a state that voted 2 times for former President

Donald Trump,

is noticed as a swing vote in the Senate.

“I imagine her overtly partisan statements will have a toxic and detrimental influence on the important operating partnership amongst associates of Congress and the up coming director of the Business of Management and Funds,” Mr. Manchin mentioned in a Friday statement. “For this cause, I can’t aid her nomination.”

President Biden reported the nomination would go ahead. “I consider we are heading to uncover the votes and get her confirmed,” he said. Asked by reporters if he planned to pull the nomination, he responded, “No.”

White Household press secretary

Jen Psaki

stated Ms. Tanden is “an accomplished coverage expert who would be an exceptional Finances Director and we appear ahead to the committee votes up coming 7 days and to continuing to get the job done toward her affirmation by engagement with equally events.”

The Senate has so considerably confirmed 7 of Mr. Biden’s prime nominees, all with bipartisan help. If the White Home were to pull Ms. Tanden’s nomination or it unsuccessful to achieve the 51 votes desired for affirmation, it would mark the initial time 1 of Mr. Biden’s nominees has been blocked.

Democrats regulate a narrow the vast majority in the 50-50 Senate simply because Vice President

Kamala Harris

can crack a tie. But Ms. Tanden’s nomination wouldn’t have enough assist to transfer forward if Mr. Manchin joins all Republicans in voting from her. Lots of Republicans have expressed misgivings about her nomination.

Ms. Tanden has in modern a long time utilized Twitter to criticize Mr. Trump and insult Republican lawmakers, even though also tussling with the remaining wing of the Democratic Celebration. During her confirmation hearings earlier this month, she apologized for her remarks and said she regretted them.

She explained herself as an “impassioned advocate” in her former position at CAP. But she included, “I recognize that the purpose of OMB director calls for bipartisan motion, as properly as a nonpartisan adherence to facts and evidence.”

Between the targets of her criticism ended up many of the senators that will vote on her nomination, together with Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), along with Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and

Susan Collins

of Maine. Previous yr, Josh Holmes, a previous major aide to Mr. McConnell, referred to her nomination on Twitter as a “sacrifice to the affirmation gods.”

Ms. Tanden, a longtime adviser to

Hillary Clinton,

has argued with some supporters of

Sen. Bernie Sanders

(I., Vt.) on Twitter and has at periods criticized Mr. Sanders.

In a 2019 letter, Mr. Sanders criticized the Heart for American Development and stated Ms. Tanden “repeatedly calls for unity though at the same time maligning my employees and supporters and belittling progressive tips.” Ms. Tanden thanked Mr. Sanders for “his several endeavours to unify the party” in a tweet just after Mr. Sanders dropped out of the Democratic most important.

Mr. Sanders is anticipated to support Ms. Tanden’s nomination, according to a particular person common with his pondering.

If confirmed, Ms. Tanden, whose mother and father immigrated to the U.S. from India, would be the initially lady of shade to oversee OMB, an arm of the White Dwelling tasked with crafting the president’s finances requests to Congress and examining proposed laws.

In advance of she grew to become the president of the Centre for American Development, Ms. Tanden was the senior adviser for health and fitness reform at the Wellbeing and Human Companies Division less than President

Barack Obama.

In that function, she helped develop the Affordable Care Act, one particular of Mr. Obama’s signature achievements in office environment. Republicans have continuously sought to overturn the law.

She was also an associate director for domestic plan and senior plan adviser to the to start with woman in the Clinton administration.

Produce to Andrew Restuccia at [email protected]