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US: Senate brings FTC commissioner nom closer to confirmation

By  |  November 13, 2013

Current Department of Justice chief counsel for competition policy Terrell McSweeny took a step closer to being confirmed as the next Federal Trade Commissioner Tuesday as a Senate panel voted to advance his nomination.

Reports say McSweeny, who was nominated last June and is expected to meet confirmation into the position, would give Democrats the majority among FTC commissioners.

His nomination will now go to a full Senate vote, though a date has not been decided. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved the nomination on a voice vote.

According to reports, the current vacancy in the FTC threatens deadlock votes, and therefore inaction, regarding pending mergers. Various big-time mergers are currently on the table for FTC review, including the proposed merger of Fidelity National Financial and Lender Processing Services, say reports.

Full Content: Reuters

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