July 18, 2013 | U.S. LABOR | The Senate voted 54-46 today to confirm the controversial nomination of Tom Perez…"Filing the position of Labor Secretary couldn't be more important," Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said ahead of the vote. "Our country and our economy are stronger when the Department of Labor has a talented and qualified leader at the reins..The president has nominated someone who will bring passion, integrity and lifetime of experience to this important position." Full story here. Related: "The Perez vote was the closest of any of President Obama's second-term Cabinet nominees. I'm sure the fact that that's true of the person nominated to safeguard workers' rights is in no way related to the giant fuss Senate Republicans kicked up over National Labor Relations Board nominees. Or to the fact that Perez does have such a strong record of fighting for vulnerable people through civil rights and labor law." At Daily Koz/Labor