Thune says Trump's choice of Moore for the Fed Board "is in danger", awaits decision on appointment this week



[ad_1]

Stephen Moore's chances of being confirmed at the Federal Reserve Board declined on Wednesday, as Trump administration officials began to privately acknowledge that he did not have votes and that Republican senators said the resulting drama for Moore's upcoming appointment would soon be over.

Moore, whom President Trump proposed to sit openly to the powerful US central bank, has been the target of heightened criticism by Senate Republicans this week, mainly because of his earlier writings denigrating women. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has already stated that she would probably oppose him, while several other GOP Senators have expressed their concerns and privately indicated that they preferred that 39, he is never officially appointed.

The Senate majority Whip, John Thune (RS.D.), said in an interview Wednesday that he hoped to have more information on Moore's fate by the end of this year. the week and that trying to confirm it in the Senate, where Republicans control 53 votes, would be a "very heavy lift."

"I think there will probably be more information about this candidacy in the coming days," Thune said. "I think he's had enough feedback from people right here that his candidacy is in danger."

Thune, the Senate's chief deputy returning officer, said he could not predict what Moore or the government would ultimately decide on his candidacy. But two GOP senators familiar with party dynamics, speaking anonymously to discuss their internal deliberations, said they expect Moore to step down, or Blanche cancels her candidacy by Thursday or Friday.

Meanwhile, some senior administration officials are becoming increasingly aware that Moore has no chance of winning confirmation from the Senate, but no decision has yet been made as to when the time is chosen for this ad.

Still, Moore on Wednesday resisted any idea that he would step down, declaring to the Washington Post: "At full speed."

Moore has been sharply criticized for his past writings and commentary, saying that there would be social problems if men were not the breadwinner, complained about women in the sport and made fun of women in combat. He now explains them as "columns of humor" and stated that he regretted having written them.

But if it is his writings on women who have the most irritated Senate Republicans, Moore comes with other baggage. He had also fought over $ 75,000 in unrecorded taxes from the Internal Revenue Service and had been found in contempt of court in 2013 for failing to pay his ex-spouse. – Married over $ 330,000 in child support and alimony.

Moore says that he has now paid the tax lien and that it was based on "an underpayment of tax of about $ 7,000". He and his wife are working for the IRS to return the rest of the money they owe.

Democrats also pointed to Moore's other comments, such as his remarks portraying Cincinnati and Cleveland as "armpit of America" ​​and calling a bill a far-reaching agricultural policy "financial rancor" . Senator Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), The Senate's Most Democrat Agriculture Committee, circulates a letter among state-farm senators asking Moore to clarify his views and ask himself if he is going to be able to do so. it included "the rural economy".

He was not officially appointed by the White House, and another potential choice of the Fed, which was never chosen – the 2012 GOP presidential candidate, Herman Cain – was dismissed in April, after have also lost the support of Senate Republicans.

When it became clear that Cain's prospects for confirmation by the Senate had evaporated several weeks ago, White House officials remained largely silent on the matter and left Cain retire at will a few days later.

"I would like to see [Moore] withdraw, "said Ernst in a brief interview Wednesday afternoon.

Ernst, who is due to be re-elected next year, has been shown the most vocal in his opposition to Moore, but other senators worry more and more about his potential appointment. , and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told Republicans to take their problems into account with Moore directly at the White House.

Senator Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) Spoke about the litany of issues surrounding Mr. Moore, including tax payments, child support and his chronicles on women, and pointed out that Republicans of the Senate could succeed. until confirmation, but that it will be difficult, according to two senators present.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (RN.D.), Trump's reliable ally who nonetheless helped to derail Cain's appointment last month, also asked his Republican Senate compatriots to voice their concerns about Moore, jokingly telling other participants that he would not be that one. scuttle the appointment.

At the same time, Fed Chairman Jerome H. Powell refused to respond to Moore's claim this week that the fall in men's wages is the "biggest problem" for the economy during the 1990s. Last 25 years.

"I think men and women should do the same thing for the same job, all in all," said Powell. When in a hurry, he said that it would not be appropriate for him to comment on anything that concerns a potential candidate.

Heather Long, Damian Paletta and Erica Werner contributed to this report.

[ad_2]

Source link