In a surprising turn of events, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, along with two Democratic colleagues, joined Republicans in a 14-9 vote to advance President Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican congresswoman and mayor from Oregon, has a pro-union background that has caused division among party lines. Some Republicans expressed skepticism over her union stance, while some Democrats welcomed her support for workers and unions.
One Republican on the committee, Sen. Rand Paul, opposed Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination due to her support of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act. Despite this, with Democratic support, Chavez-DeRemer was able to advance out of committee to receive a floor vote in the full Senate. Hassan, Tim Kaine, and John Hickenlooper all announced their support for her nomination, citing support from constituents and unions in their states.
However, the vote was not without controversy, as some liberal lawmakers used it as an opportunity to criticize Trump and Elon Musk, suggesting that Musk may have undue influence in the Trump administration. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Chris Murphy both raised concerns about Chavez-DeRemer’s stance on standing up to Musk and his companies, which have faced allegations of worker safety and labor law violations.
Chavez-DeRemer is now awaiting a floor vote in the Senate to determine if she will be confirmed as labor secretary. Her nomination represents a shift in the GOP away from anti-union policies, as Trump attempts to appeal to working voters. The New Hampshire Bulletin, an independent news organization, provided coverage of the vote and the reactions from lawmakers and unions.
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