Senate confirms two executive branch nominations

The Senate approved two nominations for the Obama administration on Sunday.

William Joseph Baer was confirmed to be an Assistant Attorney General on a 64-26 vote — only a majority was needed.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) said Baer is an “enjoyable person” in addition to being a great lawyer.

“This really is a merit appointment,” Lieberman said. “[Baer] is very widely acknowledged as one of the best anti-trust lawyers in the nation.”

Carol J. Galante was confirmed to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on a 69-24 vote.

Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said he supported her nomination even though he doesn’t like parts of the Dodd-Frank Act and how it has affected the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

“I rise to say to any member if you have a problem with FHA, don’t take it out on Ms. Galante,” Isakson said Sunday before the vote on her confirmation.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) said he did not support Galante’s nomination because he believed she had not done a good job as acting FHA commissioner.

“This nomination will have a direct effect on our constituent’s pocket books,” Shelby said. “In her role as acting FHA commissioner, she has failed. … FHA has a negative economy value and will likely need a tax payer bailout.”

Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) said that “legacy loans” threatening FHA solvency were not Galante’s fault since the loans were made long before she started working there.

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