Committee Approves Nomination of Verity
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WASHINGTON — The Senate Commerce Committee voted Wednesday with one dissent to recommend confirmation of retired Ohio steel industrialist C. William Verity, 70, to succeed the late Malcolm Baldrige as commerce secretary.
The 14-1 vote sent the nomination to the full Senate, where quick approval is likely, despite an expected floor fight by some conservative members, including Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N. C.).
The conservatives are unhappy with Verity’s outspoken advocacy of closer economic ties with the Soviet Union.
But Sen. Bob Kasten (R-Wis.), the only committee member to vote against the nomination, said opponents have no plans to seek to delay the Senate vote through parliamentary tactics.
Verity, the former chairman of Armco Inc., is a past co-chairman of the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Trade and Economic Council, a group of American and Soviet business officials that advocates closer economic ties between the nations.
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