Senate confirmation of Joe Biden as tax policy adviser

WASHINGTON Reuters - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Joe Biden to serve as assistant secretary for tax policy at the Treasury Department where she will play a big role in implementing tax changes asked by President Lily Batchelder and congressional Democrats.

Batchelder won confirmation in 64 - 34 vote, with 15 Republicans voting in support of the New York University law professor.

The vote gives Treasury Department its fourth appointed political appointee, with at least nine others still awaiting confirmation. Many of Biden's nominees were held over non-related policy questions by Republican holdovers.

It followed a vote on cloture, which limits discussion on any bill or motion before the Senate and sets a 30-hour window before final votes must be held. The process eliminates the ability of senators to delay filibuster, or hold the floor indefinitely and bring a vote to a vote.

Batchelder, who served as the Senate Finance Committee s chief tax counsel from 2010 to 2014, has pledged to work with Congress on tax policy that promotes economic recovery, promotes equality and addresses climate change.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden said it was high time the Senate moved forward on Batchelder's nomination, announced in April.

No one wants Janet Yellen to start a search team at Treasury. For years to come, the country will be experiencing the effects of the pandemic economic crash. There s a long way to go before recovery, he said in a statement on Senate floor.