CHARLOTTE (AP) — Two North Carolina politicians nominated to high positions in the Obama administration are being considered by the U.S. Senate, which must consent to their new roles.
U.S. Rep. Mel Watt of Charlotte is scheduled for a hearing Thursday by the Senate Banking Committee. President Barack Obama nominated him to be director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees government-controlled mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Obama credits Watt for helping enact rules to protect consumers from dishonest lenders.
The full Senate also may vote as early as Thursday on whether to confirm Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx as transportation secretary.
Foxx won national recognition when Charlotte hosted the Democratic National Convention last year. He was a key surrogate in North Carolina for Obama during the president’s re-election.