Arcane rules used to stymie Henney

WASHINGTON - Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.) is blocking a Senate vote on the confirmation of Jane Henney, the Clinton administration's nominee for commissioner of the FDA. Under Senate rules, a single lawmaker can impose a so-called "block" on a nomination, preventing the larger body from taking a confirmation vote.

Brook Simmons, spokesperson for the lawmaker, said that Nickles is concerned that Henney has a "propensity to legislate by regulation." No other senators have publicly opposed the nomination and Simmons did not say whether Nickles will allow the confirmation to proceed