Republicans are not doing their jobs by refusing to show up for votes on President Joe Biden‘s nominees, White House press secretary Jen Psaki argued on Friday afternoon.
GOP members of the Senate Banking Committee are effectively boycotting nominee Sarah Bloom Raskin for the position of Federal Reserve vice chairwoman of supervision, citing what they call a “lack of candor” in her responses to questions.
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“I think it’s important to remember what’s happening here,” Psaki said. “The Republicans are not showing up to a committee vote. If one of them showed up, there’d be a quorum to have a vote, and there are enough votes to move her past the committee. That’s what’s happening.”
Raskin has been heralded on the Left as a climate crusader — a reputation that complicates her confirmation prospects.
One major focus of GOP arguments against Raskin is her view that climate change is a systemic risk to the U.S. financial system and that the Fed should play a role in mitigating that risk. The nature of her positions, and the power the role has, have also come under Republican magnifying glasses.
“They’re not doing their job here, which is just to show up,” Psaki added. “They don’t have to vote for her. They just have to be in the room, which is essentially what people have elected them to do.”
Republicans have also been seeking more information about Raskin’s role as a director at a fintech firm called Reserve Trust. Democrats and the Biden administration have refused to split up the nominations and continue to defend Raskin.
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“We stand by all of our nominees,” said Psaki. “We are continuing to engage with Sen. [Sherrod] Brown on moving them forward, and certainly, we believe at this moment, when inflation is on the minds of Americans, when rising costs are on the minds of Americans, one thing that the Senate could do is confirm these nominees.”
