FHA Confirmation Hearing Postponed

The Senate Banking Committee has postponed a confirmation hearing for Brian D. Montgomery to be the new Federal Housing Administration commissioner due to a Senate dispute over the filibuster of the president's appellate court nominees.Mr. Montgomery's confirmation was on a fast track when Senate Democrats used a procedural tactic that prevents committees from holding hearings for more than two hours after the Senate is in session. This effectively killed the confirmation hearing for Mr. Montgomery, which was scheduled for Thursday afternoon. A banking committee spokesman said the confirmation hearing will be rescheduled soon. Mr. Montgomery currently works in the White House as a deputy assistant to the president. He was the chief advance man for the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign in 2000.