WASHINGTON

Marylander Thomas E. Perez, who has served as secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor for a little more than a year, is now being eyed for an even more prominent position in President Barack Obama's second-term Cabinet: successor to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.

Perez, a former Maryland labor secretary and Justice Department official, is emerging as a candidate in part because of his extensive legal background but also because he has a close relationship with the president and shares a similar political worldview, supporters said.

White House aides declined to discuss the process publicly, but an official familiar with the effort confirmed Perez is one of several people under consideration. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr. and Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney in New York, are among others whose names have been floated for the job.

Perez, a 52-year-old Takoma Park resident, joined the Justice Department in 1989 and was named head of the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation under Gov. Martin O'Malley in 2007. He returned to Justice in 2009 to lead the department's civil rights division.

He also served on the Montgomery County Council and worked for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat, who died in 2009.

"He understands the importance of fairness and opportunity," said Victoria Schultz, associate dean at the University of Baltimore School of Law, who worked for Perez at the civil rights division. "He doesn't make decisions lightly, and he likes to listen to everybody around the table."

Despite many strengths, Perez's selection also would pose serious challenges for the Obama administration. As a practical matter, shifting Perez from one Cabinet post to another would require two confirmation battles in the Senate one for Perez at Justice and another for his replacement at Labor.

And if Perez's confirmation to lead Labor last year is any indication, he would likely face resistance on Capitol Hill. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell referred to him then as a "crusading ideologue," and he was confirmed only as part of a broader deal to avoid wholesale change to Senate rules.

Republicans, led by Sen. Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, criticized Perez over what they described as a "shady" deal in which the Justice Department allegedly dropped a lawsuit against the city of St. Paul, Minn., in 2012 in exchange for the city dropping separate civil rights litigation against the federal government.

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Perez draws attention for attorney general

Published September 29, 2014

The simmering bipartisan battle over whether the Senate will try to swiftly replace retiring Attorney General Eric Holder heated up Sunday, with a top Senate Republican saying such a move would show the desperation Democrats feel about possibly losing control next month of the upper chamber.

It does need to wait, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, chairman of the Senates Republican Policy Committee, told Fox News Sunday." I am opposed to any successor during the lame-duck session.

Political analysts essentially give Republicans a slightly more than 50 percent chance of winning a net total of six seats on Nov. 4 to take control of the Senate. However, the GOP would not officially take over the chamber until January.

Barrasso said if the Democrat-controlled Senate appoints a President Obama nominee it will mark the first time since the Civil War that an attorney general has been appointed in a so-called lame duck session -- the period between when new senators are elected and the other party takes control of the chamber.

Though Republicans are no fans of Holder, Barrasso said any attempt by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to swiftly replace him would be the final act is his failed leadership of the chamber.

Holder, who resigned on Thursday, is the countrys first black attorney general and is considered an unflinching champion of civil rights in enforcing the nation's laws.

He led the Justice Department since the first days of Obama's presidency and is the fourth-longest serving attorney general in U.S. history.

However, he has faced strong criticism during his tenure -- at times bipartisan -- for a succession of controversies including a failed plan to try terrorism suspects in New York City, the botched gun-running probe along the Southwest border that prompted Republican calls for his resignation, and what was seen as a failure to hold Wall Street accountable for the financial system's near-meltdown.

The Republican-controlled House voted two years ago to make Holder the first sitting Cabinet member to be held in contempt of Congress -- for refusing to turn over documents in the gun-running operation known as Operation Fast and Furious. The administration is still fighting in court to keep the documents confidential.

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Top Senate Republican Barrasso warns against lame duck Holder replacement

Washington Whats going to be the White House strategy to get Eric Holders successor as attorney general confirmed by the Senate? Thats the big question in Washington political circles today following Holders Thursday announcement that hes stepping down.

As with any big Cabinet shuffle, the real interest among politicos and reporters is what comes next, and not what happened during the previous persons tenure. In this case that natural tendency has been intensified by the timing of Holders resignation. Hes quit just weeks before key mid-term elections. Republicans are favored to win control of the Senate, which would give them much more control over the confirmation process for the next attorney general.

The White House has a choice: try to cram Holders successor through the Senate before control might switch hands, or wait and face the possibility of GOP-run confirmation hearings.

President Obamas selection of a nominee and his decision on how quickly to push the Senate for approval will reveal much about how he envisions his relationship with Republicans in his final two years in office, writes The New York Times Carl Hulse this a.m.

Most Senate Democrats appear to be in the hurry-up camp at the moment. The Senate Democratic leadership has pushed through a rule change ensuring that all appointments except for Supreme Court justices are decided by majority vote, not the old three-fifths threshold. This means it would be much easier for the presidents pick if hearings start in November or December.

Definitely, we should have confirmation hearings as quickly as possible in the Senate, Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy (D) of Vermont told NBC News on Thursday.

Republicans, unsurprisingly, are generally clamoring for a slower process.

Allowing Democratic senators, many of whom will likely have just been defeated at the polls, to confirm Holders successor would be an abuse of power that should not be countenance, said Sen. Ted Cruz (R) of Texas.

But we say the choice here isnt that clear cut, in partisan terms. There are advantages for the Democrats in waiting to start the nomination process.

For the White House, lining up a Holder successor in a few weeks would be moving pretty fast. There are FBI background checks to make, pre-hearing interviews to get through to expose any possible weak points, and so forth. Plus, as of Friday, there did not appear to be any real front-runner for the post.

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How fast will White House push Eric Holder replacement? (+video)

Attorney General Eric Holder, right, and then-Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas Perez participate in the Department of Justices commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act July 23, 2010, in Washington. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

When Attorney General Eric Holder announced Thursday that he would leave the administration as soon as a successor was confirmed, speculation about his replacement quickly reached a fever pitch.

Holder, after all, has been with the administration from the start, and he's established himself as one of President Obama's most consequential (and controversial) Cabinet members. Whoever takes his place will have big shoes to fill.

The administration has emphasized that the selection process for a replacement is a long way from complete and that a number of candidates remain under consideration.

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President Obama announced that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is stepping down. As Major Garrett explains, Holder oversaw an unprecedented exp...

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Attorney General Eric Holder looks back at his tenure atop the Justice Department and thanks the president for giving him "the greatest honor" of...

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President Obama praises outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder's record at the Justice Department.

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Who will replace Eric Holder as attorney general?

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - ??

Here is a list of road projects around the Heartland scheduled for Sunday, September 28.

Butler County, MO

Route 72 in Bollinger County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform shoulders repairs. This section of roadway is located from Old Route 72 to Route B.

Existing lanes of Route 67 from CR 323 to Route 160/158 will be signed as Route C. The north end of Route C (existing Route 67) will remain closed for about two months as work is completed at the intersection of Route 67, Route C, and CR 323.

Cape Girardeau County, MO

Starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 29, contracted concrete slab repair and replacement will begin on Silver Springs Road between Independence Street and Bloomfield Road in Cape Girardeau. The work will cause lane closures. The expected project completion time is about four weeks.

Route EE will be closed while crews perform work on the railroad crossing. This section of road is located between Route 25 and County Road 264. Weather permitting, crews will be working on Friday, Sept. 12 and then again on Monday, Sept. 29 through Thursday, Oct. 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

MoDOT plans to replace the bridge on Route 61 over Hughes Creek - two miles from Route CC. Construction is set to begin in 2015.

Property owners adjacent to the bridge will have access to their properties. A marked detour is proposed here:

Here is the original post:
Heartland road projects for 9/28

Washington Whats going to be the White House strategy to get Eric Holders successor as attorney general confirmed by the Senate? Thats the big question in Washington political circles today following Holders Thursday announcement that hes stepping down.

As with any big Cabinet shuffle, the real interest among politicos and reporters is what comes next, and not what happened during the previous persons tenure. In this case that natural tendency has been intensified by the timing of Holders resignation. Hes quit just weeks before key mid-term elections. Republicans are favored to win control of the Senate, which would give them much more control over the confirmation process for the next attorney general.

The White House has a choice: try to cram Holders successor through the Senate before control might switch hands, or wait and face the possibility of GOP-run confirmation hearings.

President Obamas selection of a nominee and his decision on how quickly to push the Senate for approval will reveal much about how he envisions his relationship with Republicans in his final two years in office, writes The New York Times Carl Hulse this a.m.

Most Senate Democrats appear to be in the hurry-up camp at the moment. The Senate Democratic leadership has pushed through a rule change ensuring that all appointments except for Supreme Court justices are decided by majority vote, not the old three-fifths threshold. This means it would be much easier for the presidents pick if hearings start in November or December.

Definitely, we should have confirmation hearings as quickly as possible in the Senate, Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy (D) of Vermont told NBC News on Thursday.

Republicans, unsurprisingly, are generally clamoring for a slower process.

Allowing Democratic senators, many of whom will likely have just been defeated at the polls, to confirm Holders successor would be an abuse of power that should not be countenance, said Sen. Ted Cruz (R) of Texas.

But we say the choice here isnt that clear cut, in partisan terms. There are advantages for the Democrats in waiting to start the nomination process.

For the White House, lining up a Holder successor in a few weeks would be moving pretty fast. There are FBI background checks to make, pre-hearing interviews to get through to expose any possible weak points, and so forth. Plus, as of Friday, there did not appear to be any real front-runner for the post.

See the original post:
How fast will White House push Eric Holder replacement?

The White House hintedFridaythat it hoped to hold a vote on a replacement for Attorney General Eric Holder during the lame-duck session of Congress later this year.

It is "worth looking at some of the recent occasions in which Congress has considered nominees in this context,"said White House press secretary Josh Earnest. He did not have any update on the timing for the president's announcement.

"So there is a precedent for presidents making important Cabinet nominations and counting on Congress to confirm them promptly, even in the context of a lame-duck session, if necessary," Earnest said.

Earnest also noted that former President George W. Bush's Attorney General Michael Mukasey was confirmed within seven weeks of his nomination.

"So there is a pretty clear precedent for attorneys general and for other prominent Cabinet officials to go through the process of being nominated and confirmed quickly and with bipartisan support," Earnest said.

A number of Republican lawmakers have warned the president against trying to force Holder's replacement through in the lame-duck session. But if Democrats lose control of the Senate, the administration and leadership would have anincentiveto move the nomination through before Republicans take control.

"Rather than rush a nominee through the Senate in a lame-duck session, I hope the president will now take his time to nominate a qualified individual who can start fresh relationships with Congress so that we can solve the problems facing our country, said Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Earnest offered little insight into the vetting process, other than saying the candidate "will have the kinds of skills and credentials that will merit a prompt and bipartisan confirmation vote."

Holder announced on Thursday his intent to step down after a replacement is found.

Excerpt from:
WH hints at replacing Holder in lame duck

White House press secretary Josh Earnest speaks during the daily news briefing at the White House on Sept. 22, 2014. (Associated Press) **FILE** more >

The White House made a pitch Friday for the Senate to confirm a replacement for Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. quickly, even though President Obama hasnt yet nominated a candidate.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest pointed to the Senate confirmation of Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a lame-duck session of Congress in December 2006, after the midterm election resulted in Democrats preparing to take control of the chamber.

There is a precedent for presidents making important cabinet nominations and counting on Congress to confirm them promptly, even in the context of a lame-duck session, Mr. Earnest said.

Mr. Holder announced Thursday that he will leave the post he has held for nearly six years. He said hell wait until the Senate confirms a new attorney general before he steps down.

All thats needed is for Mr. Obama to nominate a replacement; Mr. Earnest said there is no timetable for an announcement.

The president will obviously consider a range of candidates, he said.

The rest is here:
White House: Senate should act 'quickly' on Holder replacement

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - ??

Here is a list of road projects around the Heartland scheduled for Saturday, September 27.

Butler County, MO

Route 72 in Bollinger County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform shoulders repairs. This section of roadway is located from Old Route 72 to Route B.

Existing lanes of Route 67 from CR 323 to Route 160/158 will be signed as Route C. The north end of Route C (existing Route 67) will remain closed for about two months as work is completed at the intersection of Route 67, Route C, and CR 323.

Cape Girardeau County, MO

Starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 29, contracted concrete slab repair and replacement will begin on Silver Springs Road between Independence Street and Bloomfield Road in Cape Girardeau. The work will cause lane closures. The expected project completion time is about four weeks.

Route EE will be closed while crews perform work on the railroad crossing. This section of road is located between Route 25 and County Road 264. Weather permitting, crews will be working on Friday, Sept. 12 and then again on Monday, Sept. 29 through Thursday, Oct. 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

MoDOT plans to replace the bridge on Route 61 over Hughes Creek - two miles from Route CC. Construction is set to begin in 2015.

Property owners adjacent to the bridge will have access to their properties. A marked detour is proposed here:

Read the original post:
Heartland road projects for 9/27

Thursday, September 25, 2014 | 8:03 p.m. CDT; updated 8:26 p.m. CDT, Thursday, September 25, 2014

WASHINGTON Eric Holder, America's first black attorney general and an unflinching champion of civil rights in enforcing the nation's laws, announced his resignation Thursday after leading the Justice Department since the first days of President Barack Obama's term. He is the fourth-longest-serving attorney general in U.S. history.

Holder, the administration's point man on the civil rights investigation into the police shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old in Ferguson, Missouri, won't leave until a replacement is confirmed, which means he could remain in office for months.

Senate Republicans signaled they were preparing for a confirmation fight after years of battles with Holder. Said Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell: "I will be scrutinizing the president's replacement nominee to ensure the Justice Department finally returns to prioritizing law enforcement over partisan concerns."

In an emotional ceremony at the White House, Obama called Holder "the people's lawyer" and credited him with driving down both the nation's crime and incarceration rate the first time they have declined together in more than 40 years.

"Through it all, he's shown a deep and abiding fidelity to one of our most cherished ideals as a people, and that is equal justice under the law," Obama said.

Holder responded by speaking of how he was inspired as a boy by Robert Kennedy's leadership on civil rights at the Justice Department, his voice choking as he expressed his thanks to Obama and his own family. "You got through it," Obama could be heard telling Holder as the audience stood and applauded.

In a speech earlier this week, Holder described the dual perspective he brought to the job and how it applied to the Ferguson shooting, in which a young black man was shot and killed by a white policeman. He said he had the utmost respect for police as a former prosecutor and the brother of an officer. But, he added, "As an African-American man who has been stopped and searched by police in situations where such actions were not warranted, I also carry with me an understanding of the mistrust that some citizens harbor."

Holder told The Associated Press in an interview that he's not sure whether the Justice Department will finish its investigation into the shooting before he leaves. "I don't want to rush them," Holder said. He said once out of office, he will direct attention to "issues that have animated me" during his tenure, including criminal justice and civil rights.

"If you asked me what my biggest regret was, I would say that it was the failure to pass any responsible and reasonable gun safety legislation after the shootings in Newtown," Holder said. He said he thought in the aftermath of the school shootings in Connecticut that the nation would embrace change that was "not radical but really reasonable" on gun ownership.

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UPDATE: Holder, champion of civil rights, resigning as attorney general