WASHINGTON – Alabama’s senators split along party lines on Trump appointments that came before the Senate during the legislative week ending Dec. 7. The House conducted no votes that week.

SENATE

Kathleen Kraninger, Consumer Finances Regulator

Voting 50 for and 49 against, the Senate on Dec. 6 confirmed Kathleen L. Kraninger as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. As a deputy to White House budget chief and CFPB acting director Mick Mulvaney, she has embraced the Trump administration’s dismantling of the Obama-era agency. Kraninger has also worked at the departments of Homeland Security and Transportation. Democrats said that in addition to lacking experience in the fields of consumerism and finance, she is lukewarm toward the bureau’s original mission of expanding legal protections for customers in everyday financial transactions with banks and credit firms.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said Kraninger “brings a wealth of experience to an agency in need of a renewed, consumer-focused mission.”

Gary Peters, D-Michigan, said Kraninger would “dismantle protections for the men and women currently serving in our military and for our veterans, our students, our seniors and all American consumers.”

A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.

Alabama

Voting yes: Richard Shelby, R 

Voting no:  Doug Jones, D 

Bernard McNamee, Energy Regulator

Voting 50 for and 49 against, the Senate on Dec. 6 confirmed Bernard L. McNamee, the Department of Energy’s policy chief, for a seat on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas and oil and licenses hydroelectric projects. In previous positions, McNamee, an attorney, represented utility firms in regulatory actions, served as an aide to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and worked for conservative interest groups. His nomination was disputed over his record of promoting fossil fuels, downplaying clean energy, dismissing climate change and urging government subsidies of coal-fired and nuclear power plants on grounds of national security.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said that as “a well-regarded lawyer on energy issues,” McNamee “has represented clients and gained expertise all across the energy sector. He has helped clients build solar projects and natural gas facilities and get renewable energy standards approved.”

Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, said McNamee would “take us backwards in the fight to combat climate change … .His history as being a supporter of the fossil fuel industry, an opponent of clean energy and an opponent of progress to combat climate change (is) alarming.”

Alabama

Voting yes: Shelby 

Voting no:  Jones 

KEY VOTES AHEAD

Congress was set to debate fiscal 2019 spending and a five-year farm bill in the week of Dec. 10.