Web sites seek to identify source of hold on bailout IG

Several left-leaning media Web sites are attempting to out the Republican senator who has put a secret hold on the nomination of Neil Barofsky as special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Barofsky would be responsible for overseeing use of federal bailout funds.

Senate Banking Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., announced Nov. 21 that the nomination was cleared by his panel, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and all Senate Democrats.

But Dodd said it was blocked on the floor under Senate rules that allow any senator to anonymously hold up nominations. That prevented Barofsky from receiving a vote before the Senate recessed for Thanksgiving.

Several blogs are trying to out the senator blocking the nomination by encouraging readers to ask Republican Senate offices, and then posting the results shared by readers. That approach had worked to out senators blocking a bill intended to increase transparency in federal contracting.

A spokesman for Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., who was critical of Barofsky during a Banking Committee hearing, has not responded to inquiries about whether the senator placed the hold.