Alaska nominee to Interior Department advanced by Senate committee

WASHINGTON — An Alaskan nominated to head several Interior Department offices sailed through his confirmation vote Tuesday in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Joe Balash, who had been chief of staff for Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, passed by a nearly unanimous voice vote in the committee.

Only Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., registered dissent for Balash's nomination. He did not elaborate on why during the hearing, and a spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

If confirmed by the full Senate, Balash will be assistant secretary for land and minerals management. He would oversee the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski chairs the committee tasked with approving Balash's nomination before it heads to the Senate floor for a final confirmation vote. She made short work of the effort, having held a hearing on Sept. 7 to question Balash.

Balash and several other nominees were passed out of the committee Tuesday by a voice vote.