Biden deputy budget nominee Young wins Republican plaudits; House
Democrats want her in top job
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[March 05, 2021]
By Andrea Shalal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Shalanda Young,
President Joe Biden's nominee to be his deputy budget director who has
emerged as the top contender for budget director after the nomination of
Neera Tanden was withdrawn, won praise from Republican lawmakers on
Thursday for her ability to work across the political aisle.
"These days wide bipartisan support is rare, but when Senators Graham,
Leahy, Sanders and Shelby agree, either we're in a some sort of weird
space-time continuum or the nominee is exceptionally capable," said
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, referring to fellow Republicans Lindsey
Graham and Richard Shelby and Democrats Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sander.
"Ms. Young is a qualified individual with a distinguished record in
public service. I look forward to the committee and the Senate approving
her nomination," said Cassidy, in his introduction of Young to a Senate
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee confirmation
hearing.
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats,
including the Congressional Black Caucus, say that Young should replace
Tanden as Biden's nominee for director of the Office of Budget and
Management.
Tanden withdrew her nomination this week, after senators from both
parties threatened not to vote for her because of her critical comments
on Twitter.
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Young, who was the first Black woman to serve as the staff director
for Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, could become
the first Black woman to head the OMB.
Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee wrote to Biden on
Thursday urging him to nominate Young. "Shalanda Young has an
impressive, lengthy record of hard work and smart budgeting across
all of the federal departments and programs," they wrote.
The White House emphasized Thursday that Young wouldn't
automatically get the top job of gatekeeper for the $4 trillion
federal budget.
Biden clearly thinks highly of Young and she would be acting
director of the budget office if confirmed, White House press
secretary Jen Psaki said. However, she added, "There is a range of
individuals in the country who are qualified for the job."
If Biden chooses another woman of color to head the Office of
Management and Budget, and all remaining nominees are confirmed, his
cabinet will be 46% female and 50% non-white, including Biden and
Harris, according to Inclusive America, a non-profit that tracks
diversity in government.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Heather Timmons, Cynthia
Osterman and Leslie Adler)
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