Despite a partisan divide, Buffalo native Thomas Perez was endorsed by a Senate committee today to head the Labor Department. Perez, a high-ranking lawyer with the Department of Justice who currently serves as assistant attorney general for civil rights, faces a partisan battle for full Senate confirmation as labor secretary.
Every Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee voted against Perez in Thursday's 12-10 vote. Perez will likely need at least 60 votes to be confirmed.
Republicans accuse Perez of making decisions based on left-wing ideology, while supporters say he is a respected civil rights enforcer.
