Hmmm Early Birds? U.S. Economy, Frank Dodd Overhaul ~ Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Friday Senate Confirms Nominees to Several Key Economic Posts ...

snip ~ The Senate, acting late Thursday and early Friday on dozens of nominations before departing for a week-long break, voted 74-26 to confirm John Bryson as Commerce Department secretary.

October 21, 2011

Senate Confirms Nominees to Several Key Posts

The Senate has confirmed nominees to several key economic policy and regulatory positions, including a new Commerce Department secretary and members of agencies charged with implementing key parts of last year's Dodd-Frank financial-regulatory overhaul.

The Senate, acting late Thursday and early Friday on dozens of nominations before departing for a week-long break, voted 74-26 to confirm John Bryson as Commerce Department secretary.

The action ended a battle with Republicans opposed to Mr. Bryson's support for alternative energy and his record as an environmentalist. Mr. Bryson fills the opening created when Gary Locke became ambassador to China in August.

Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Friday, the Senate confirmed Democrat Luis Aguilar to a second term at the Securities and Exchange Commission and signed off on a new term for Republican Dan Gallagher, who fills an empty seat at the five-member agency.

At the same time, the Senate confirmed Mark Wetjen, an adviser to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.), to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Under last year's Dodd-Frank law, the SEC and CFTC are jointly writing rules to regulate the over-the-counter derivatives market.

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