In a May 14 article about Senate Republicans' rejection of David Hayes' confirmation as deputy Interior secretary, the Politico dubiously suggested that Republicans' opposition stems from actions Hayes has proposed taking if confirmed, reporting that Hayes has been “criticized by Western Republicans for proposals to yank oil drilling leases on public lands.” In fact, the oil drilling lease issue is a matter of current Obama administration policy, not a proposal from Hayes: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced on February 4 that the Bureau of Land Management would withdraw the leases to “take a fresh look at these 77 parcels and at the adequacy of the environmental review and analysis that led to their being offered for oil and gas development.” Moreover, a spokeswoman for Sen. Robert Bennett (R-UT) -- who, along with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), has “led the opposition to Hayes,” according to the Politico -- reportedly told CNN on May 12, "This is not about Hayes."

Indeed, CNN congressional producer Ted Barrett reported on May 13 that “Bennett said his opposition is not about Hayes' qualifications. Rather, Bennett said, the administration has not adequately answered his questions about why oil and gas leases in his state -- which were approved in the last days of the Bush administration -- were canceled by the Obama administration. He called the actions 'political.' ” Barrett also reported that a “Republican leadership aide said another vote won't be needed if Bennett's concerns are addressed by Interior.”

Similarly, in a May 14 article on the blocked confirmation, The Washington Post reported that “Republicans acknowledged beforehand that the vote was not a rejection of Hayes” but “instead were making a statement of opposition to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's cancellation this year of leases for oil and gas drilling in Utah”:

Republicans acknowledged beforehand that the vote was not a rejection of Hayes, who served for two years as deputy interior secretary in the Clinton administration; Republicans instead were making a statement of opposition to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's cancellation this year of leases for oil and gas drilling in Utah.

Sen. Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah) rallied the opposition to Hayes, suggesting that the eleventh-hour lease auction for drilling -- which happened with six weeks remaining in the Bush administration -- was agreed to and should have gone ahead as planned.

Further, a May 13 Politico article and a May 13 blog post by senior congressional reporter Glenn Thrush reported Democrats' criticism of Republicans' opposition to Hayes' nomination as “hostage-taking” and “obstructionism,” but did not mention that Bennett's office has reportedly said that "[t]his is not about Hayes."

From the May 14 Politico article:

Senate Republicans showed again why Democrats are so desperate to make Al Franken their 60th vote.

In a 57-39 vote, Democrats fell just short of the 60 votes needed to confirm David Hayes as the No. 2 official at the Department of Interior. Hayes -- criticized by Western Republicans for proposals to yank oil drilling leases on public lands -- is the first Obama nominee to be stopped by GOP opposition.

“What we have today is a classic hostage-taking,” Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) said Wednesday. “This just deepens the cynicism about business as usual in Washington.”

[...]

Republican Sens. Bob Bennett of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have led the opposition to Hayes. Both have raised questions about the Obama administration's plans for gas development.

From the May 13 Politico article:

Senate Democrats wasted little time Wednesday slamming their Republican counterparts for blocking the nomination of David Hayes to be deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior.

In a 57-39 vote Wednesday, Democrats fell short of the 60 votes needed to push Hayes' nomination forward. Hayes is the first Obama nominee to be stopped by GOP opposition.

“What we have today is a classic hostage-taking,” Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) told reporters in a news conference after the vote.

[...]

Republican Sens. Bob Bennett of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have led the opposition to Hayes. Both have raised questions about the Obama administration's plans for gas development.

From Thrush's May 13 blog post:

As expected, David Hayes' nomination as the Interior Department's No. 2 official fell three votes shy of the 60 needed to close debate -- with Maine's Olympia Snow and Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) as the lone GOP yeas.

[...]

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who lobbied his former Senate colleagues right up to the vote, was hopping mad. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) suggested Democrats could re-introduce the nomination at a later date -- if and when Al Franken is seated.

“This was a tired vote of bitter obstructionism,” Salazar said in a statement. "It may be uncomfortable for some to watch us have to clean up mess after mess -- from corruption to lawbreaking - that is the previous Administration's legacy at Interior, but to cast a vote against such a qualified and fine person is the height of cynicism.