On Monday the US Senate will have the opportunity to end debate and confirm the nomination of Patricia Smith as US Solicitor of Labor. Senator Reid will be calling for a closure vote on debate by the Senate and move her nomination.
Pat Garofalo writes at the Wonk Room about Smith’s successes:
"The New York Times has called Smith “one of the nation’s foremost labor commissioners because of her vigorous efforts to crack down on minimum wage and overtime violations at businesses including restaurants, supermarkets, car washes and racetracks.” During her time with the New York State Labor Department, where she is labor commissioner, Smith helped win more than $20 million in back pay for thousands of low-wage workers, including a record $2.3 million settlement with the owner of Ollie’s Noodle Shop and Grill chain in Manhattan.
As David Madland and Karla Walter pointed out, 'too often penalties [for labor law violations] are easily reduced or levied for low amounts, and the solicitor’s office has minimized civil and criminal liability for the worst violators.' Smith can change that, if only her nomination could come to a vote."
This is a unique opportunity for the Republicans to demonstrate their partisan support in the spirt that President Obama called for in his State of Union speech last week and confirm an eminently qualified individual, Patricia Smith, as US Solicitor-Department of Labor.
