Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz
and new commissioner Maureen Ohlausen have been confirmed by the Senate,
Leibowitz for his second term, according to the FTC.
Leibowitz
was first named a commissioner in 2004, and was named chairman by President
Obama in 2009.
Ohlhausen
was a partner at Wilkinson Barker Knauer and before that was director of the
FTC's Office of Policy Planning.
"My
fellow Commissioners and I look forward to welcoming Maureen Ohlhausen as a new
Commissioner. Her exceptional experience, knowledge and leadership will be of
great service to the Federal Trade Commission and American consumers,"
said Leibowitz in a statement. "I am humbled and grateful to the Members
of the U.S. Senate for their confidence in my continued service at the nation's
premier consumer protection agency."
While
Ohlhausen had been in the "green room," as it were, Leibowitz could
have continued serving even without the renomination. Although his term was up
in 2010, FTC Commissioners can serve in perpetuity or until a
successor/replacement has been confirmed.
Both
had had easy confirmation hearings, but failed to get a vote in the last Congress
along with FCC nominees Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai.
No
word on when they, too, might get the Senate approval that is expected to come
as soon as a hold by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), is lifted. He has said
that could come as soon as he sees LightSquared documents from the FCC, which
has just made documents available this week per a request from the House Energy
& Commerce Committee, which has said it would share them with the senator.
But a spokesperson for Grassley said they had not yet seen the documents -- the
FCC says there are over 13,000 pages worth -- and did not know when they would,
so there was no change in that hold status at press time.
