President-elect Donald Trump has been calling his Cabinet picks over the past two months, although the process formally begins today with the adoption of the first set Senate hearings for his nominees to lead the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense and Interior.
American sense. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) and Dave McCormick (D-Pennsylvania) are on opposite sides of the issue, but they do not fully agree with or oppose Trump’s choices.
Fetterman, member of the U.S. Senate committee on Agriculture, nutrition and forestryhe said Capital-Star during the Pennsylvania Farm Show on January 4 that he “fully expects” to vote for Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins.
“I met with her,” Fetterman said. “Of course she will have different opinions on some topics, but overall she has a solid background and I really learned a lot more about her.”
Fetterman added that he “cannot imagine” there would be “explosive hearings” on Rollins’ confirmation and expressed hope that he would work with her on crafting the next farm bill.
“So I’m looking forward to working with her and we’ve already said we’re going to find a lot of people like that [of] things to work together on this and deliver benefits to Pennsylvania and farmers,” Fetterman said.
Fetterman also ministers to others committees who will hear from Trump’s candidates: Trade, science and transport, Homeland Security and Government AffairsAND Special Committee on Aging.
McCormick, who was sworn in earlier this month after defeating longtime incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (R-Pa.), serves on the following committees: Banking, housing and urban affairs, Energy and natural resources, Foreign relations, Special Committee on AgingAND Joint Economic Committee.
On Saturday, McCormick, speaking to reporters at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, which was his first public appearance in the state since becoming a senator, said he had already met with several of Trump’s Cabinet nominees but was focused on the selections that would go before his committees. .
“I am a member of the Energy Committee, so I am the Secretary of Energy and Secretary of the Interior. I’m on the Banking Committee, so these economics people will come through me, and I’m on the Foreign Affairs Committee,” McCormick said, adding that he also plans to meet with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Trump’s pick for secretary of state.
“I feel like President Trump has promised disruption and is nominating a number of people who will be disruptive in the best sense of the word,” McCormick told the Capital-Star. “We want change. That’s what the Americans told us. That’s what Pennsylvania told us.
“That’s why I want to help him in every way possible to make sure that his nominees and get the team he needs,” he added. “But I’m also a senator who has a duty to advise and consent, so I take it seriously. I will meet with every person. “I’m going to do my due diligence, but I’m hopeful that we can put together, and I’m optimistic that we can put together, a great team for president.”
Asked by the Capital-Star whether he had any reservations about any of Trump’s choices, he reiterated that he “meets with each of them on an ongoing basis” and that he would “form an opinion when I have a chance to meet with them.”
Fetterman, who recently became the first Democrat to do so meet Trump at Mar-a-Lagomet several Trump candidateswhile many other Democrats did not.
“I don’t know why meeting with the nominees would be controversial, some of them I may vote for, like future Secretary of Agriculture Marco Rubio or Rep. Stefanik,” Fetterman told reporters on January 4. “And there are others, maybe I won’t do it, but whoever I vote for, it will be a conscious choice. And I consider it doing my job.”
“I don’t find it controversial,” Fetterman added. “I don’t judge the people they meet. But I hope no one would do the same.”
Republicans hold a multi-seat majority in the U.S. Senate, so it’s likely that all Democrats and many Republicans would vote in favor of some of them his nominations will not be confirmed.
