Sen. Shelby lifts some holds on Obama nominees

From Monday's NYT blog:

The move may temper a threat by Democratic leaders in the Senate — and even the White House — that the administration would make recess appointments during next week’s Presidents’ Day break, bucking any notion of senators’ approval.

Last week, Mr. Shelby had caused quite the flap with the White House by placing innumerable “holds” on presidential nominees awaiting approval by the Senate. At one point, Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, deemed the senator’s actions the “poster child” for how badly Washington works.

Mr. Gibbs labeled the move yet another version of the corrupt nature of lawmakers’ earmarks for pet projects.

In a statement tonight, Senator Shelby’s spokesman, Jonathan Graffeo, disputed the notion that these were “earmarks,” saying:

“The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House’s attention on two issues that are critical to our national security – the Air Force’s aerial refueling tanker acquisition and the FBI’s Terrorist Device Analytical Center (TEDAC). With that accomplished, Senator Shelby has decided to release his holds on all but a few nominees directly related to the Air Force tanker acquisition until the new Request for Proposal is issued. ”

Basically, here’s the gist. Northrop Grumman and its partner, European Aeronautical Defense and Space, want the contract for the refueling tanker. It would add about 1,500 jobs in Mobile, Ala. This contract has been a protracted fight that involves Northrop’s competition, Boeing. Alabama Republicans, including Senator Shelby’s colleague, Senator Jeff Sessions, want a revisit of the draft bid package.

In addition, Senator Shelby is adamant that funds — scheduled for appropriation earlier — should be released for an anti-terrorism center in Alabama.

His spokesman took issue with both the idea that these were earmarks and the idea that the senator was placing blanket holds on nominees.

But Senator Shelby still has holds on on these individuals: Terry Yonkers, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force; Frank Kendall, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics; and Erin Conaton, Under Secretary of the Air Force.