Administration faults GOP tactic of blocking presidential appointments

By Scott Wilson and Ed O'Keefe
The White House ramped up its criticism of Republican senators blocking presidential appointments Friday after the leader of the Senate complained that an Alabama member has placed a blanket hold on more than 70 administration nominees in order to secure funding for home-state projects.

"If that's not the poster child for how this town needs to change the way it works, I fear there won't be a greater example of silliness throughout the entire year of 2010," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. "It boggles the mind to hold up qualified nominees for positions that are needed to perform functions in a government because you didn't get two earmarks."

Sen. Richard Shelby's office said his concerns are rooted in the future of the KC-135 Air Force tanker fleet, a project that could generate thousands of jobs in Alabama.

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