Hilda Solis deflects Republican questions over union issues

At her confirmation hearing, the nominee to head Labor avoids being drawn into a fight over matters such as the 'card check' bill, which she co-sponsored in the House.

By James Oliphant
LA Times
January 10, 2009

Reporting from Washington — Senate Republicans spent much of Friday morning trying to draw Barack Obama's choice for Labor secretary, Rep. Hilda L. Solis (D-El Monte), into a fight over union issues.

But she gave them little ammunition, repeatedly refusing to express her opinion on hotly contested issues such as organizing rights. And at the end of her relatively brief confirmation hearing, Solis' nomination did not appear to be endangered.

Republicans are concerned that Solis, a strong supporter of unions in her eight years in the House, will bring a pro-union bias to the Labor Department.

"This is a very important position," said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah). "It can't be used to magnify one side over the other or any side over the other. It has to be handled fairly."

(More here.)