The Senate adjourned today, effectively ending the 110th Congress for the Senate, and in so doing sent hundreds of Bush nominations into the garbage can. Today also marked the end of every 4 days Pro Forma Senate sessions, which prevented Bush from making any recess appointments.
The nominations that died today went from from important judgeships to four nominees for the Inter-American Foundation. And many of these positions had terms running past Bush's time in office, creating more positions for Obama to fill.
A small sample of nominations that died today can be found below the fold. The full list is too long even for the extended entry, and can be found at DemConWatch.
Nominations which died in committee:
In the Committee on Armed Services
Jul 10, 08 PN1838 Department of Defense
Robert Hastings, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
In the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
May 16, 07 PN570 Federal Reserve System
Randall S. Kroszner, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of fourteen years
from February 1, 2008.
In the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Jun 19, 08 PN1788 Department of Labor
Brent R. Orrell, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor.
In the Committee on the Judiciary
Dec 11, 08 PN2205 Department of Justice
Matthew W. Friedrich, of Texas, to be an Assistant Attorney General.
Sep 09, 08 PN1989 The Judiciary
Loretta A. Preska, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for
the Second Circuit.
Nominations which never received a full Senate vote:
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
* 805 1537 John P. Hewko, of Michigan, to be an Assistant
Secretary of Transportation, vice Andrew B.
Steinberg.
Sep 26, 2008 Reported
Inouye, Committee
Commerce, Science,
Transportation, without
printed report.