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Democrats delay votes on two Bush nominees
Thursday, January 20, 2005

Democrats delayed votes on two of President Bush's most controversial nominees on Wednesday while a third had his second confirmation hearing.

The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed consideration of Alberto R. Gonzales' nomination as attorney general. Democrats said he hasn't answered all of their queries about the Bush administration's treatment of terrorist detainees. Gonzales, as White House counsel, authored memos that appeared to suggest torture was legal.

Separately, he Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced Condoleezza Rice's nomination as secretary of state by a 16-2 vote, with Sens. Barbara Boxer of California and John Kerry of Massachusetts voting against her. But Democrats delayed a full Senate vote for another week.

Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee held a confirmation hearing for Michael O. Leavitt, former Utah governor, as secretary of health and human services. Questions centered on plans for the Medicaid program, which Leavitt called "inefficient." Leavitt would oversee the Indian Health Service once confirmed.

Get the Story:
Senate Panel Delays Vote on Gonzales (The New York Times 1/20)
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Democrats Delay Final Approval of Rice for State Dept. (The New York Times 1/20)
Rice Is Closer to Final Vote Of Senate (The Washington Post 1/20)
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Leavitt Won't Rule Out Medicaid Budget Cuts (The Washington Post 1/20)
Boxer Is Loudest Voice of Opposition to Rice Nomination (The New York Times 1/20)

Related Stories:
State, HHS nominees go before Senate committees (1/19)
Gonzales to go before Senate Judiciary Committee (1/6)
Bush picks Leavitt for Health and Human Services (12/14)
Bush makes big Cabinet shuffle for second term (12/14)
Norton to stay at Interior for second term (12/10)
Treasury Secretary Snow to stay in Bush Cabinet (12/9)
Griles departs from Interior after rocky tenure (12/8)
Thompson resigns from Health and Human Services (12/6)
Griles blames controversies on Bush opponents (12/8)
Bush taps ex-NYPD official for Homeland Security (12/3)
Ridge resigns as Homeland Security Secretary (12/1)
Bush taps Kellogg executive as Commerce Secretary (11/30)
Bush nominates another White House adviser (11/18)
Bush to nominate Rice as Secretary of State (11/16)
Powell among four Cabinet departures pending (11/15)
Hispanic lawyer tapped as attorney general (11/11)
Hispanic lawyer likely successor to Ashcroft (11/10)

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