Republicans on the Senate Judiciary exercised their right under committee rules to delay votes on several nominees today, including Thomas Perez, President Obama’s pick to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Also delayed: votes on Andre Davis, nominated for the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and David Hamilton, for the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
Sen. Jeff Sessions’ (R-Ala.) decision to request more time for review is a common tactic for members of the minority party. At today’s hearing, Sessions said, “Some of the members on our side wanted another chance to look that over.” He declined to reveal names but said he woudl take responsibility for the delay. “It’s my hold, I guess you can call it,” he said.
If Sessions does end up making a fuss about Perez’s nomination, don’t be too surprised. Sessions said that he was “alarmed” by the fact that Perez used the word “xenophobes” when discussing opposition to illegal immigration in 2006. Perez responded that the label was meant for a specific individual, not all immigration opponents. Sessions also asked Perez about “state laws requiring identification to vote, the voting process for members of the military, and mortgage fraud involving illegal immigrants” at his confirmation hearing.
Perez is currently Maryland’s state labor secretary.
