The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 14-0 Friday to approve William P. Barr's nomination for attorney general, clearing the way for a final Senate confirmation vote, probably next week.
Barr, the acting attorney general who has been a senior Justice Department official for the last three years, was praised for his candor by liberal Democrats who said they disagreed with his conservative views."I wish I could change his mind on a whole range of things," said Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., D-Del., panel chairman, noting that he told Barr "I'm for you for attorney general, but don't come up for the court."
Biden said he disagreed with Barr on a wide range of philosophical issues, particularly on the question of separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government.
But Biden praised Barr for his willingness to cooperate with Congress.
"He is a throwback to the days when we actually had attorneys general who would talk to you," Biden said, alluding to relations Congress had with Dick Thornburgh, who resigned in August, and Edwin Meese III, who served in the Reagan administration.