Panel vote sends Lew to Senate

WASHINGTON – A Senate committee voted to confirm Jacob Lew as treasury secretary despite Republican concerns about his support for higher taxes to reduce the nation’s debt as well as his tenure as a Citigroup executive before joining the Obama administration.

The 19-5 vote Tuesday by the Senate Finance Committee moves the nomination of Lew, the former White House chief of staff, to the full Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he hoped to hold a confirmation vote by the end of the week.

Los Angeles Times