Former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has presumably attempted to cash in some favors owed by the Biden administration by pushing her preferred nominee to fill the vacant Labor Department secretary position.
The news comes in the wake of the resignation of Martin Walsh, who was one of the latest high-profile Biden administration members to leave his post.
Pelosi wants former Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York to fill the roll.
However, it was reported Wednesday that President Joe Biden made his choice, and it definitely wasn’t Maloney.
Pelosi’s power
She may no longer hold the gavel, but Pelosi is no lightweight in the halls of Congress. She still wields considerable power, even if its behind the scenes at this point.
The Daily Caller cited a Politico report:
“Pelosi has been making phone calls to the Biden administration advocating for Maloney to take the recently vacated position, replacing Martin Walsh.”
Maloney, a five-termed congressman, lost his 2022 midterm election, leaving him without a job.
Even though Pelosi probably has more favors to trade than anyone in Congress, it looks as though Maloney will need to set his sights on something else, as Pelosi’s endorsement wasn’t able to overcome the one thing that transcends favors: identity hiring.
Biden taps Su
Reportedly due to “pressure” from the Asian-American community, Biden this week nominated Julie Su for the job.
NPR reported:
Asian American Democratic lawmakers and advocates had pushed Biden to nominate Su after she spent years promoting the rights of Asian American and immigrant workers. She also headed California’s labor department during the pandemic, when millions were filing for unemployment.
Maloney, even as the first openly gay congressman out of New York, never stood a chance.
Su made a statement Wednesday, previewing her agenda, should she be confirmed later this year.
“I believe in the transformative power of America, and I know the transformative power of a good job,” Su said. “To all workers who are toiling in the shadows, to workers who are organizing for power and respect in the workplace, know that we see you.”