Republicans in the Senate have been privately concerned about Andy Puzder, Donald Trump’s choice for Labor secretary, and the fast-food CEO could be in real trouble if more than two GOP senators vote against him. Now the Washington Post reports that four Republican senators are “on the fence” about Puzder, just three days before his Senate confirmation hearing. In addition to the two Republicans who voted against Education secretary Betsy DeVos (Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska), Georgia’s Johnny Isakson and South Carolina’s Tim Scott also tell the Post they are reserving judgment.
CNN’s Senate reporter Manu Raju also reported Monday that Republican members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee held an “emergency” meeting last Wednesday with Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell on Puzder’s confirmation.
Supporters of Puzder’s nomination are bumping up their efforts, including a Twitter campaign boosted by the National Restaurant Association. And Mitt Romney, no automatic ally of Trump, published a lengthy Facebook post Monday afternoon calling for Puzder’s confirmation. “As a friend of Andy’s, I know he is a good man; the kind of man we should welcome into government service,” Romney wrote. “I strongly urge the Senate to confirm him so this courageous, honest and effective man can get to the people’s work.”
