Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, came out against Neera Tanden, President Joe Biden's nominee for director of the Office of Management and Budget, leaving hopes of her confirmation up to the White House's ability to find another Republican to back her.
"The Director of OMB is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the federal budget and plays a significant role in any Administration's fiscal and regulatory agenda. Congress has to be able to trust the OMB director to make countless decisions in an impartial manner, carrying out the letter of the law and congressional intent," Collins noted in a statement explaining her decision, Politico reports.
"Neera Tanden has neither the experience nor the temperament to lead this critical agency. Her past actions have demonstrated exactly the kind of animosity that President Biden has pledged to transcend."
Collins called attention to the fact that Tanden, president of the liberal advocacy group Center for American Progress, deleted over 1,000 tweets before her nomination was announced, claiming this raises questions about her commitment to transparency. Tanden once wrote on Twitter that Collins is "the worst," Politico notes.
"The OMB needs steady, experienced, responsive leadership. I will vote against confirming Ms. Tanden," Collins concluded.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., also came out against Tanden last week, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Biden are said to be working on whipping up votes for the OMB nominee's confirmation.
If Tanden retains support from the remaining 49 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, the White House would need one more Republican vote to confirm her. According to Politico, gaining the support of a moderate Republican like Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah or Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska could be Tanden's best hope, as centrists in the divided Senate are competing for primacy and Biden and his chief of staff Ron Klain could offer them something in return for their support.
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