Senate Sends Elaine Chao to Trump's Cabinet, 93-6

President's pick for transportation secretary sails through nomination
Posted Jan 31, 2017 12:50 PM CST
Senate Sends Elaine Chao to Trump's Cabinet, 93-6
In this Jan. 11, 2017 file photo, Transportation Secretary-designate Elaine Chao testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.   (AP Photo/Zach Gibson, File)

Republicans might be telling Democrats to "stop acting like idiots" in boycotting votes on some of President Trump's Cabinet picks, but it's been smooth sailing for one nominee: Elaine Chao will be the next secretary of Transportation after the Senate resoundingly confirmed her Tuesday on a 93-6 vote, reports Politico. Chao—the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who voted "present"—is what Politico terms "among the most qualified and least controversial nominees" the president has put forth.

She has a long resume that includes a stint as labor secretary in former President George W. Bush's Cabinet. She will head Trump's plans to sink $1 trillion into infrastructure projects, notes the AP. Senate Democrats Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders, Chuck Schumer, and Elizabeth Warren voted against her. (More Elaine Chao stories.)

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