Senate Republican leaders Tuesday announced the Senate will decline to take action on the Governor’s nominee to lead the Department of Labor and Industry. The leaders did ask for the nomination to be recalled, but Gov. Wolf declined.
In response, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre) have issued the following statement:
“The majority of the Senate Republican Caucus expressed serious reservations about the qualifications and abilities of Jerry Oleksiak. At the same time, we wanted to balance those concerns with the understanding that the Governor should have the ability to establish his own team.
“Our lack of confidence stems from concerns for his fitness to lead this agency that were then underscored during meetings with Mr. Oleksiak. Allowing the time for consideration on Mr. Oleksiak to lapse means the Governor’s nominee assumes the post of Secretary but without the affirmative vote of the Senate.”
The move by the Senate is unprecedented. Under law, Oleksiak will become Secretary of L&I since he has been under consideration by the Senate for 25 legislative days.
The Constitution gives the Senate a maximum of 25 legislative days to take action on an Executive Nomination. Any nomination that remains on the Executive Nomination Calendar and has not been considered by the full Senate by the close of the 25th legislative day will automatically be deemed confirmed.
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