After squeaking through a cloture vote, 60-40, on Wednesday, Thomas Perez was
confirmed as labor secretary Thursday by a 54-46 party line vote. Senate Republicans really don't like this guy, though several Republicans who have
actually worked with him, in Maryland and elsewhere, praise him highly.
The Perez vote was
the closest of any of President Obama's second-term Cabinet nominees. I'm sure the fact that that's true of the person nominated to safeguard workers' rights is in no way related to the giant fuss Senate Republicans kicked up over National Labor Relations Board nominees. Or to the fact that Perez does have
such a strong record of fighting for vulnerable people through civil rights and labor law. In any case, his confirmation is good news, too long in coming, after too much obstruction.