Senate GOP ready to confirm Yellen as Biden’s Treasury secretary

Senate Republicans signal openness to help confirm Janet YellenJanet Louise Yellen The Hill’s Morning Report – Brought to you by Mastercard – Fears coast to coast over COVID-19 after the holidays have propagated Biden to appoint Neera Tanden, Cecilia Rouse to the Economics Team: WSJ Economic Challenges monuments await Biden’s Secretary of the Treasury PLUS be president elect Joe bidenJoe BidenTrump rages against ’60 minutes’ for interview with Krebs Cornyn Spox: Neera Tanden has ‘no chance’ of being confirmed as Biden’s OMB picks Five things to know about second round of the Georgia Senate LEARN MOREthe Secretary of the Treasury.

Although GOP senators refrained from predicting it would be confirmed, they praise Yellen’s qualifications – a stark contrast to other members of Biden’s economics team.

“I believe she would get a favorable opinion,” Sen said. Chuck grassleyColorado Governor Charles (Chuck) Ernest Grassley, spouse tested positive for COVID-19 McConnell stops in-person Republican lunches amid COVID-19 outbreak Rep. Rick Allen tests positive for COVID-19 PLUS (R-Iowa), while noting that he usually does not announce his position until after the finance committee hearings are finished and noted that he would review the tax documents.

His. John cornynJohn Cornyn Cornyn spox: Neera Tanden has “ no chance ” of being confirmed as OMB’s choice of Biden Cornyn on undisclosed links to Biden aides: “ Senate is not obligated to confirm whoever is hiding this information ‘Cornyn says election result’ is becoming increasingly clear ‘: MORE report (R-Texas), adviser to the Senate Majority Leader Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Five Things to Know About Georgian Senate Second Round Obama Chief Economist Says Democrats Should Agree to Smaller Coronavirus Relief Package If Needed (R-Ky.), Noted that he might have philosophical differences with Yellen but that he believed she was qualified.

“I think she’s fine. I have no problem with her,” said Cornyn, “My attitude is that in the absence of conflict of interest or whatever, you know, a lack of temper and Superior partisanship beyond those the vice president should get the people he wants. ”

Asked about his support for the post of Treasury secretary, he added: “I haven’t heard of any reason why I wouldn’t.”

Taking note of Grassley’s comments, Senator John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneCongress ready for chaotic year-end sprint Republicans set to become deficit hawks again under President Biden Democrats push back calls for Biden to play hard on Cabinet picks MORE (RS.D.), Republican No. 2 in the Senate, said Yellen would get a “fair process,” adding “that she is obviously very experienced.”

“I can think of the worst appointments they could have made,” Thune said.

Biden officially announced that Yellen was his choice to serve as Secretary of the Treasury on Monday.

Yellen, who previously chaired the Federal Reserve Board, is widely respected on both sides of the aisle. If confirmed, she will be the first person to chair the Fed, head the Treasury Department, and chair the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Which party controls the Senate next year is still in limbo. If the Democrats manage to win two rounds in Georgia in January, they will force a 50-50 draw, meaning they could confirm Biden’s nominees without GOP support.

But if the Republicans hold a majority of 51 or 52 seats, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Will have control of the speaking calendar ball and Yellen will need GOP support to be confirmed. .

She won the support of nearly a dozen GOP senators in 2014 for her appointment to the Federal Reserve. But she could gain new support from the GOP, with Grasley voting against her, noting that the vote was not predictive of how he will vote on his next Treasury nomination.

Yellen will likely face questions about the emergency loan facilities created as part of the March coronavirus bill.

His. Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph Toomey Court of Appeals declares NSA bulk telephone data collection illegal Dunford steps down as chair of coronavirus oversight committee GOP senators are pushing for swift and partial reopening of the economy PLUS (R-Pa.), Expected from the next bank chairman if Republicans control the chamber, said in a statement about Yellen’s appointment that he would raise the issue with her, while noting that ‘he had “no doubts about his integrity or his technical competence.”

Any disagreement, GOP senators stressed, would focus on politics, not Yellen’s personality.

“I will enter with an open mind. I think we’re going to ask him some serious questions about his definition of full employment in relation to what we’re showing right now, but … the questions we will have will be policy questions. And I think as long as she’s ready to answer it, I’ll keep an open mind, ”Sen said. Mike RoundsMike RoundsDemocrats Reject Calls for Biden to Play Hard on Cabinet Choices Trump Keeps Firm Hand on GOP Amid Divisions Hillicon Valley: Trump Fires Top Federal Cyber ​​Security Official, GOP Senators Push Back | Apple will pay 3 million to solve the fight against batteries | Los Angeles Police Prohibit Use of Third-Party Facial Recognition Software READ MORE (RS.D.).

Rounds added that he believed Biden had an “equal vote” on Cabinet choices, noting that without significant concerns, “I can always go with the president on his choice.”

His. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt Romney Voters elected a record number of black women to Congress this year – none set in Republican Congress for a chaotic year-end sprint Biden’s Cabinet a battleground for futures GOP hopes in the White House MORE (R-Utah) added that he would give his appointment a “careful consideration”, when Yellen alone is “clearly a very competent person.”