Major push for his confirmation.
By The American Bazaar Staff
WASHINGTON, DC: Dr. Vivek Murthy could be confirmed the Surgeon General of the United States two days from now, on December 11.
The embattled nominee of President Barack Obama has been put on the backburner since his sharp criticism of guns was lambasted by Republicans.
Republicans, and some Democrats on Capitol Hill, ganged up on Murthy fearing a backlash by the National Rifle Association (NRA), if they gave support for his nomination.
Murthy had tweeted his belief that gun violence should be treated as a public health issue instead of a criminal matter.
There has been heavy support of late for Murthy, including from Sen. Mark Warner. Read that story here: http://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2014/12/02/sen-mark-warner-gives-push-confirm-dr-vivek-murthy-surgeon-general/
But now, Senate Democrats are “likely” to give anti-gun Surgeon General Murthy a confirmation vote before they lose control of the Senate at year’s end, reported Breitbart.
This gives departing Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) an opportunity to poke midterm voters in the eye for supporting pro-gun GOP candidates over Democrats.
According to Politico, a senior Democrat aide says Murthy “is likely to get a vote before Democrats hand control of the chamber to Republicans in January.” In one way, he has his best chance for confirmation now because Democrat rule changes allowing confirmation by a simple majority are still in place. In another way, his confirmation is a long shot “due to queasiness among Republicans and moderate Democrats about Murthy’s positions on guns.”
Reid could try to confirm Murthy on December 11, reported Breibart.
A joint column by Tom Daschle, a Democrat and former Senate majority leader, and Tom C. Korologos, a Republican strategist at DLA Piper, in Roll Call today, titled ‘A Surgeon General for the 21st Century’ said: ‘This is no time for politics to overshadow the important work that lies ahead. Vivek Murthy should be confirmed as surgeon general; he is the right person to be America’s doctor.’