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Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., on Wednesday would not commit to bringing up the nomination of former House Budget Chairman Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, to be Office of Management and Budget director for a vote in his committee.

"Well, we're in discussions," Conrad said. "His nomination is in some difficulty. I told him that directly yesterday. You've got people who served with him in the House who feel he should not be confirmed."

Spending fights on fiscal 2008 appropriations bills loom this fall, and current OMB Director Rob Portman, while taking a hard line, was seen as more approachable by Democrats. "We're entering into a very difficult situation with the White House. They've signaled a very confrontational stance, and unfortunately he has a reputation among many as being confrontational. So, it's not helped by the situation," Conrad said.

Conrad released a statement Tuesday after meeting with Nussle saying that "we need an OMB director who is fully committed to working with Congress" on fiscal matters.

Nussle's nomination must go through Conrad's panel before going to the floor, as well as the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Neither has scheduled a hearing. Portman has said he wants to leave his post before the August recess.

COMMENTS

• Yep-- venom and union confusion all right. My bad. I guess my confusion occurs because of all these unbelievable newspaper headlines including today's, "Bush Commutes Libby's Prison Sentence." I changed my mind Dan-- I think Mr. Nussle is a perfect fit for OMB. I wish him all the luck in the world and the fact that Congress can't work with him means nothing--It really won't make much of a difference over the next year and a half anyway. And you want to keep bashing congress and call them Whinners- knock yourself out. In 2008 we can drop the "h" from this word in the next election cycle. HR Specialist HR Specialist Posted July 3, 2007 8:04 AM
• HR, I thought the Post was supposed to be about OMB nominee. Your free to spout your venom but it has nothing to do with the subject at hand. Must be that old Union philosophy don't confuse me with the facts. dan ketter Posted June 28, 2007 4:29 PM
• I read the paper plenty-- was that congressional children "whinning" or perhaps children "winning" against grumpy old Uncles Cheney and Rove. I'm an old Union hand and I almost, and I repeat almost, feel sorry for the President. He must get up every morning in the last few weeks wondering what administrative nightmare he has to face today. Oh, I forgot-- the President doesn't read the papers and grumpy Uncle Cheney certainly won't interrupt the President's breakfast of cocoa puffs and fluff. You want to see whinny children Dan-- go over to the Old Executive Office Building and if you want to see how many there are-- just drive up in a Good Humor truck and ring the bell. And these children are now really throwing a temper tantrum. I can't wait to open the paper tomorrow to see what today's administrative nightmare is for them-- Ha! HR Specialist Posted June 28, 2007 3:54 PM