Senators clash over Homeland Security management nominee

Usually in lockstep, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman and ranking member Susan Collins were at odds Wednesday over President Obama's pick to manage the Homeland Security Department.

The committee voted 7-3 to send to the full Senate the nomination of Rafael Borras to be undersecretary for management at the department. Lieberman backed the nomination, noting Borras has 27 years of management experience in the public and private sectors.

"On balance, I think this nominee deserves to be confirmed," he said. Collins adamantly opposed the nomination, saying she did not believe Borras had sufficient experience.

She noted that Borras failed to account for about $10,000 in taxable income in 2005 and 2006, although he has since paid taxes he owed and fines.

"I believe that he fails to meet the statutory requirements that we put in law to make sure that we had a person of significant experience in this position," Collins said. The controversy is expected to follow the nomination to the Senate floor.