by Fred Satterwhite, Senior Consultant, DCI Consulting Group, Inc.
The Senate confirmed Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-CA) as President Obama's Secretary of Labor with an 80-17 vote this afternoon.
Questions from Republican lawmakers regarding Solis' support for the Employee Free Choice Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act and tax liens filed against her husband's business had delayed her confirmation for over a month. Due to the extended delay, President Obama appointed Labor Department official Edward C. Hugler to serve as acting secretary on February 2.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved Solis' nomination earlier this month, but the stage for a final confirmation vote was not set until this morning, when Democratic and Republican lawmakers reached an agreement that the GOP would not filibuster her nomination on the Senate floor.