Two Republicans vote with Democrats to advance Biden guns nominee
by Aris Folley - 06/16/22 3:52 PM ET
President Biden’s nominee to head up a key agency tasked with reducing gun violence has cleared a key procedural hurdle in the Senate, paving the path forward for a potential confirmation vote in the days ahead.
The Senate voted 52-41 on Thursday afternoon on a motion to discharge Steve Dettelbach, whom Biden nominated earlier this year to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, out of committee.
Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) joined Democrats in advancing Dettelbach’s nomination, which will allow the upper chamber to bring his nomination up for a floor vote.
The vote comes hours after the Senate Judiciary Committee deadlocked on an earlier vote to move the nomination forward. The Senate is expected to vote on whether to confirm Dettelbach’s nomination next week.
The White House tapped Dettelbach for the role in early April. Months before, it withdrew a previous nomination for David Chipman, a former ATF agent, following opposition from Republicans and gun rights groups.
Chipman’s nomination had also previously drawn resistance from Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), who caucuses with Democrats. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) had previously been hesitant to back his nomination as well.
However, the three senators have since expressed support for Dettelbach’s nomination, increasing the chances of his confirmation in the days ahead.
If confirmed, it would mark the first time since 2013 that the Senate has approved a leader for the post, after past efforts by the Trump administration to have a director confirmed also failed amid pushback from Republicans.
more
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3526765-two-republicans-vote-with-democrats-to-advance-biden-guns-nominee/
