A "very ticked-off" Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) predicted that the nominee for the Interior Department's number two post "will be approved despite the lockstep opposition" of Senate Republicans, reports Politico.
Said Reid: "We will confirm David Hayes. If I have to wait until Al Franken comes, we will confirm David Hayes."
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar was equally ticked off after a vote on the Hayes nomination failed, according to NBC News.
Said Salazar: "This was a tired vote of bitter obstructionism. It may be uncomfortable
for some to watch us have to clean up mess after mess -- from
corruption to lawbreaking -- that is the previous administration's
legacy at Interior, but to cast a vote against such a qualified and
fine person is the height of cynicism."