Brownback’s nomination returns to Senate panel

Gov. Sam Brownback could move one step closer this week to joining the Trump administration.

The U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations committee on Thursday is scheduled to take up Brownback’s nomination to be ambassador-at-large for international freedom.

“We have not been notified of the necessity of a hearing, just a revote,” said Bob Murray, the governor’s spokesman.

No confirmation vote has been scheduled for the full Senate.

President Donald Trump in July first nominated Brownback for the ambassadorship. After a contentious hearing in October, Brownback’s nomination passed out of the foreign relations committee on a party-line vote.

Brownback hoped to win confirmation by the end of the year and began to publicly discuss ceding power to Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer.

Brownback said late last year that Colyer would take the lead on developing the budget proposal, and soon after, it was Colyer, not Brownback, who announced a Cabinet appointment.

But the Senate failed to vote on Brownback by year’s end, and his nomination was returned to the White House.

Since then, Brownback, who was renominated by Trump earlier this month, has made clear that he will remain governor until he wins confirmation.

This story was originally published January 16, 2018 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Brownback’s nomination returns to Senate panel."