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Pelosi Decries Fast-Track Effort For Trump Defense Secretary Pick

WASHINGTON (CBS / AP) -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says it would be a terrible precedent to put expedited procedures for confirming President-elect Donald Trump's defense secretary pick in a stop-gap spending bill.

Congress has to change the law to allow retired Gen. James Mattis, to fill the civilian job. Mattis' nomination would then need Senate confirmation next year.

Republicans want to put fast-track steps to changing the law in the catchall spending bill Congress will vote on this week.

In a statement on Tuesday, Pelosi decried the move and said it was troubling that Republicans were working so hard to shield Trump's nominee from scrutiny and debate of Congress and the American people.

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