Mick Mulvaney’s Confirmation Passes Procedural Vote

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ABC NEWS– President Donald Trump’s choice to run the White House budget office cleared a Senate hurdle, though a senior Republican says he won’t support him.

South Carolina’s Rep. Mick Mulvaney  has attracted opposition from Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz. McCain says Mulvaney’s record of support for military operations in Afghanistan and the Pentagon budget generally is too soft.

“Congressman Mulvaney’s beliefs, as revealed by his poor record on defense spending, are fundamentally at odds with President Trump’s commitment to rebuild our military,” McCain said in a speech on the Senate floor. “And this record cannot be ignored in light of the significant authority exercised by the director of OMB (the Office of Management and Budget) over the federal budget.”

The Senate voted 52-48 along party lines to advance Mulvaney to a final, up-or-down vote Thursday, where the outcome is in greater doubt. McCain voted to advance Mulvaney to a final vote while making his opposition clear.