GOP renews threat to block nominee

Politico reports

The top Republican in the Senate indicated Tuesday that he plans to stick by his pledge to block President Obama’s nominee for commerce secretary because trade agreements haven’t been passed.

A spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sent an email to reporters to “remind” them of Republicans’ plans, stated in March, to “use all the tools at our disposal to force action, including withholding support for any nominee for Commerce Secretary and any trade-related nominees.”

The Senate GOP wants Obama to send trade agreements with Panama, Colombia and South Korea to Congress. “This should not be a difficult decision for the President, particularly when the President himself agrees with us that these agreements will create jobs here in America,” Don Stewart, McConnell’s spokesman, said in the email.

Obama announced Tuesday that he’s selected John Bryson, a former CEO of an electric power company, to be the next commerce secretary. Bryson must be confirmed by the Senate.

The current commerce secretary, Gary Locke, has been nominated to be the next ambassador to China.