Watt deserves a vote

President Barack Obama gave a push Tuesday for the man he selected to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

“Months ago, I nominated a man named Mel Watt to be our nation’s top housing regulator,” Obama said during a speech in Phoenix about home ownership. He is an outstanding member of Congress. ... The Senate should give his nomination an up or down vote without any more obstruction or delay.”

Although Watt, a Democrat from Charlotte whose district reaches Greensboro, won majority support from the Banking Committee last month, he was not included in the deal between Democratic and Republican Senate leaders that led to the confirmations of several other Obama nominees.

With a floor vote put off until September at the earliest, it’s likely that Majority Leader Harry Reid failed to secure the 60 votes needed to break a possible Republican filibuster against Watt, Politico’s Jonathan Allen reported this week.

North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr is the only Republican who has stated support.

Meanwhile, the delay is frustrating hopeful successors to the 20-year veteran. A special election will be held to fill the vacancy — if there is one.

“The only thing you can do is run your campaign and be ready when it’s time to be ready,” state Rep. Marcus Brandon, a High Point Democrat, told The Charlotte Observer. State Rep. Alma Adams, a Greensboro Democrat, is another possible candidate.

The 12th District is heavily weighted with Mecklenburg County voters, making it necessary for candidates from other areas to start sooner and work harder. The early favorite may be state Sen. Malcolm Graham, a Charlotte Democrat.

Delaying Watt’s confirmation past September might preclude a special election in November. A longer lag adds more complications. Filing for the regular election in November 2014 opens in January. Watt could decide to give up on the housing nomination and seek re-election.

Many Republicans simply don’t like his liberal voting record or doubt he would pursue reforms at federal mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. That’s unfair. Obama also supports Fannie and Freddie reform, and Watt would be expected to carry out the president’s policies.

Besides, Watt has satisfied his constituents for two decades by working hard, listening to their concerns and representing their interests. Isn’t that what congressmen are supposed to do?

In his speech Tuesday, Obama praised Watt’s service on the House of Representatives Housing Committee, where he “worked with banks, worked with borrowers to protect consumers, to help responsible lenders provide credit. He is the right person for the job.”

If Republican senators don’t agree, they’re entitled to vote against Watt’s confirmation. But they should not block a vote. Watt deserves the chance to take on a challenging new role.