GOP defectors block Trump nominee to head Ex-Im Bank

Source: Politico

By ZACHARY WARMBRODT 12/19/2017 11:42 AM EST Updated 12/19/2017 11:31 AM EST

Two Senate Republicans joined with Democrats on Tuesday to block the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s pick to head the Export-Import Bank, a rare rejection of a Trump appointee by members of his own party and prominent business groups.

The outcome had been building for months after the White House and the nominee, former Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.), failed to win over lawmakers who were suspicious of why Garrett would want to lead an agency that he tried to shut down when he served in Congress. Garrett went down in a 13-10 vote by the Senate Banking Committee. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) voted against him.

“We need to both reform the Export-Import Bank and ensure it continues to function as an important tool for American businesses," Scott said. "Given Mr. Garrett’s long history opposing the Ex-Im Bank, I believe it would be hard for him to accomplish both of those goals.”

The vote was the latest battle in a long-running war over the future of the Export-Import Bank, which guarantees loans for foreign buyers of U.S. exports.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/19/ex-im-bank-nominee-scott-garrett-blocked-241044