Politics & Government

Senator Vows to Block Obama's Commerce Nominee From San Marino

President Obama's nomination of San Marino resident John Bryson for Secretary of Commerce faces additional GOP opposition due to Bryson's environmental views.

John Bryson, the San Marino local whom President Obama nominated for Commerce Secretary, faced more opposition Tuesday when Oklahoma Republican senior U.S. Senator James Inhofe said he would block Bryson’s bid, according to Reuters.

"With sky high unemployment and a struggling economy, who does President Obama choose to promote job growth? The founder of the radical Natural Resources Defense Council, a left-wing environmentalist organization, which in the name of global warming, seeks to increase drastically the price of electricity and gasoline across America," Inhofe said, according to Reuters.  "This is a recipe for disaster for our economy.”

Bryson, who was CEO of the California utility Edison International from 1990 to 2008, said during his confirmation hearing in June that he was proud of helping found the NRDC but that the group often opposed decisions he made as head of Edison and he sometimes sued to block them, Reuters reported.

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He added that creating more jobs would be his top priority with the Obama administration.

Inhofe, whose state of Oklahoma produces oil and gas, was also fearful of economic growth in his state being jeopardized if Bryson becomes Secretary of Commerce.

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"With nearly two decades as a CEO and having served in the leadership of some of America's top companies, John Bryson has created jobs and understands what it takes for American businesses to innovate and compete in an increasingly competitive global economy," White House spokesman Kate Bedingfield said, according to Reuters.

California Assemblymember .

When , he faced opposition from Republicans who wanted Obama to focus on advancing free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea before considering any Commerce Secretary nomination.


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