The Obama administration is reportedly ramping up its efforts to get former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray confirmed as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
According to a report published Sunday night by The Hill, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest has confirmed the administration will strategically lobby senators in seven states – Alaska, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Nevada, Tennessee and Utah – in an attempt to secure the 60 votes necessary to confirm Cordray.
"Certainly, this would be among the more aggressive efforts that the president has undertaken to get a nominee confirmed," Earnest said, according to The Hill.
So far, 45 Republican senators have signed a letter vowing to block any CFPB nominee unless structural changes are made to the bureau's leadership. The Republicans object to the single-director structure and favor a committee approach.
Two Republican senators have not signed on to the pact: Sens. Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
Brown, who may face CFPB architect Elizabeth Warren in the 2012 senate vote, has already publicly endorsed Cordray as CFPB head.
