Milwaukee City Wire

On October 18, 2023, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, along with 28 Republican Senate colleagues, sent a letter to President Biden demanding clarification regarding the improper placement of Acting Secretary of Labor, Julie Su, in the presidential line of succession. They are calling on the President to withdraw Su's nomination and put forward a nominee who can be confirmed to the position of Secretary of Labor.

The letter highlights the fact that Julie Su has not received Senate confirmation and faces bipartisan opposition to her nomination. Despite this, the Biden Administration has chosen to keep her in place as Acting Secretary of Labor indefinitely and has listed her on the White House website as a member of the Cabinet "in order of succession to the presidency."

According to the letter, Congress has the authority to set the presidential line of succession beyond the Vice President, as stated in Article II of the Constitution. This power was exercised with the passage of the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. The Act specifies that a Cabinet member is only eligible to assume the presidency if they are an officer who has been "appointed, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate."

The letter is signed by several prominent Republican Senators, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Bill Cassidy, and Senators Marsha Blackburn, Susan Collins, and Tom Cotton, among others.

This action by the Republican Senators raises concerns about the Biden Administration's adherence to constitutional principles and the proper functioning of the executive branch. The letter emphasizes the need for transparency and adherence to the constitutional requirements for the presidential line of succession.

The full text of the letter can be found on the Senate's website, and more information about the senators' letter can be found on FOX News.

This letter from Senator Johnson and his Republican colleagues highlights the importance of upholding constitutional principles and ensuring that nominees for key positions receive proper confirmation from the Senate. The concerns raised in this letter deserve careful consideration and a response from the Biden Administration.

Click this link to access more information: https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/10/sen-johnson-joins-letter-to-biden-administration-on-improper-placement-of-acting-sec-of-labor-julie-su-in-presidential-succession