The Baltimore Sun notes that among the numerous executive nominations in play during the United States Senate’s public procedural deliberations is that of Labor Secretary nominee Tom Perez. Mr. Perez is a former Montgomery County Council Member, and served as Maryland Secretary of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Thomas E. Perez, the Marylander nominated by President Barack Obama to lead the U.S. Department of Labor, is set to face a critical vote in the Senate this week that puts his confirmation in the middle of a blistering battle over the use of the filibuster.

Four months after his nomination, the 51-year-old Takoma Park man is one of seven presidential appointees whom Democratic leaders plan to bring to the Senate floor as early as Tuesday.

…

The votes scheduled Tuesday to end debate on the seven nominees come amid a deeply partisan fight over whether the GOP minority has abused its power to delay confirmations through the use of the filibuster. Democrats have threatened to limit delays of executive branch nominees through a controversial procedure to change Senate rules known as the “nuclear option.”

Read the full Sun article online (limited free views available).

See previous Conduit Street coverage of the Perez nomination.

Tuesday afternoon update:

The Washington Post reports that Senate leaders have reached a tentative agreement regarding numerous pending appointments, possibly including that of Mr. Perez. From their coverage:

After the deal was announced, senators voted 71 to 29 to set up a final vote, expected by Wednesday, to confirm [acting Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Richard] Cordray. Seventeen Republicans joined all 54 members of the Democratic caucus in ending debate. Other nominations considered less controversial — to lead the Labor Department, Environmental Protection Agency and the Export-Import Bank — are expected to be confirmed by the end of the week.