Dems hit Kentucky senator for new holds

Democratic freshmen and sophomores took the Senate floor on Tuesday to rip a series of holds by Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., on trade and business nominees.

They said Bunning is blocking Michael Mundaca, nominated to be assistant Treasury secretary for tax policy, as well as Michael Punke, President Obama's choice for U.S. ambassador to the World Trade Organization, and Islam Siddiqui, nominated to be the chief agriculture negotiator.

Bunning is holding up Punke and Siddiqui to push the administration to pressure Canada to repeal parts of an anti-smoking law passed there.

The focus on the nominees was part of an ongoing Democratic effort to increase pressure on Republicans over obstruction of Senate business. Bunning, who is retiring at the end of the session, has been a favorite target of Democrats.

Bunning said he has pressed U.S. trade officials "to work out a compromise with the Canadian Parliament. [They] haven't pursued it, so there has been no progress."