The partisan fight over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has snagged the nominations to head two other federal banking regulators.
Over the weekend, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to allow the confirmation of Martin Gruenberg to head the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Thomas Curry as comptroller of the currency, and Thomas Hoenig as the FDIC's vice-chairman, despite an agreement by the top Democrat and Republican on the Banking Committee to approve the three uncontroversial nominees as a package deal.
Speaking on the Senate floor on Saturday, McConnell explained his decision by saying that the Obama administration had not pledged to forego making recess appointments while the Senate was out of session. The Kentucky Republican said a slate of nominees would not move forward until President Obama made such a promise.
"I look forward to receiving this confirmation from the administration so we can go forward on this nominations package," McConnell said.
Senate Republicans have successfully blocked Richard Cordray's nomination to head the CFPB unless Democrats agree to change the bureau's structure.
Although McConnell did not mention the CFPB by name, GOP lawmakers have been worried the White House will attempt an end-run around the dispute by making a recess appointment over the Christmas holiday.
"We remain hopeful that we will be able to confirm Mr. Gruenberg, Mr. Curry and Mr. Hoenig early in the new year," a Democratic staffer on the Senate Banking Committee said.
But McConnell offered no guarantees about what he will do next year. In general, Senate confirmation becomes a trickier proposition as a presidential election approaches.
It also may depend on whether President Obama makes a recess appointment. If so, Republicans are likely to retaliate by delaying some or all of Obama's pending nominees.
