LATEST UPDATES: Confirmation hearings for Trump's picks to lead Energy, Treasury departments

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left, and Steven Mnuchin
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left, and Steven Mnuchin

12:05 P.M. UPDATE:

Donald Trump's choice to run the Treasury Department is promising that the United States won't default on its debt, and he wants to raise the country's borrowing limit "sooner rather than later."

A reset is due later this year.

Steven Mnuchin told the Senate Finance Committee during a sometimes contentious confirmation hearing that he and Trump believe that "honoring the U.S. debt is the most important thing."

Raising the borrowing limit is necessary to avoid a first-ever default on U.S. obligations, but Trump has raised eyebrows by suggesting he might renegotiate the government's obligations to save money.

Mnuchin tried to dispel any doubts. In his words: "The U.S. has the obligation to honor its debt" — and "we don't want to risk defaulting."

Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

[TRUMP: Timeline of president-elect’s career + list of appointments so far]

NOON UPDATE:

Rick Perry is engaging in a bit of self-deprecation to make the point that he doesn't agree with cuts being discussed for Energy Department research programs.

Perry is remembered for being unable to recall during his first presidential campaign that the department was one of the agencies he would eliminate. Now he's Donald Trump's pick to lead it.

The former Texas governor is recalling that embarrassing moment during his confirmation hearing. Senate Democrats are questioning him about reports that the Trump transition team is considering eliminating offices that deal with research on renewable energy, modernizing the electric grid and others.

Perry was asked whether he supports such cuts. His response: "Maybe they'll have the same experience I had and forget that they said that."

The audience in the hearing room broke out in laughter.

10:40 A.M. UPDATE:

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says the Senate will vote on two of Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees Friday and begin debate on a third.

The Senate will vote on retired Gen. James Mattis to be defense secretary and retired Gen. John Kelly to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

Both are expected to be easily confirmed.

And debate is expected to begin on the nomination of Mike Pompeo — a Republican congressman from Kansas — to head the CIA.

When President Barack Obama was inaugurated in 2009 the Senate confirmed seven Cabinet nominees that same day. But Democrats — led by Schumer — complain that Trump's nominees haven't submitted required paperwork in all cases, and there's not been enough time to question the nominees.

10 A.M. UPDATE:

Energy Secretary-designate Rick Perry is criticizing a Trump transition team questionnaire seeking the names of those who worked on Obama administration climate policy efforts.

The issue came up during questioning at Perry's Senate confirmation hearing Thursday.

Perry says the questionnaire went out before he was picked by Trump to oversee the department.

Here's what Perry says: "I didn't approve it. I don't approve of it. I don't need that information. I don't want that information."

Some Energy Department officials viewed the questionnaire as an attempt to go after top scientist at the agency. Democratic lawmakers called it a political witch hunt that could have a chilling impact on federal workers.

9:35 A.M. UPDATE:

Donald Trump's pick to lead the Treasury Department is defending his handling of thousands of foreclosures during the height of the financial crisis.

Steven Mnuchin said he worked hard to assist homeowners to refinance so they could keep their homes.

Mnuchin says in his prepared testimony to the Senate Finance Committee that he's "been maligned as taking advantage of others' hardships in order to earn a buck" and that nothing could be further from the truth.

The committee's top Democrat, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden — is scolding Mnunchin for running a bank that "put more vulnerable people on the street faster than just about anybody else" as it foreclosed on borrowers' homes.

Critics have cited the bank's foreclosure policies under Mnuchin as a prime example of the kind of Wall Street greed that Trump campaigned against.

9:30 A.M. UPDATE:

A Democratic lawmaker is introducing former Texas Gov. Rick Perry at his confirmation hearing.

Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia says Perry — in line to be energy secretary — was a successful executive in a state with a diverse energy portfolio.

Manchin is noting how governors learn to form bonds that cross party lines.

Manchin says that was particularly the case after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. He says West Virginia sent airplanes and soldiers to help Texas at Perry's request. He calls the response in Texas a collaboration of how government officials should work together.

9:20 A.M. UPDATE:

The Senate's top Democrat says Donald Trump's pick to run the Treasury Department has failed to reveal all his financial holdings in initial disclosures to lawmakers.

And Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York says that "reeks of the swamp" that the president-elect has promised to drain.

Schumer calls the Treasury pick — Steven Mnuchin — the latest ethically challenged Trump nominee to be rushed through the Senate. Schumer says the "American people and Senate Democrats are not going to stand for it."

Democrats say Mnunchin amended his initial disclosures to report about $100 million in additional assets and roles in several investment funds, including incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

9:05 A.M. UPDATE:

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he now regrets recommending the elimination of the Department of Energy when he ran for president in 2011.

Perry is appearing a Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday. It was during a GOP-candidate debate when Perry couldn't recall the department as one of the agencies he'd eliminate.

Democrats aren't letting him forget it.

Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington state says she suspects that after Perry has had a chance to learn about the department, he now has a very different opinion.

Perry says that after being briefed on "so many of the vital functions" of the department, he regrets his earlier recommendation.

8:25 A.M. UPDATE:

Rick Perry says he believes the climate is changing — and that some change is naturally occurring, and some is man-made.

The former Texas governor is Donald Trump's pick to head the Energy Department, and he's facing a Senate hearing Thursday.

Perry says in prepared testimony to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that the question is how to address climate change in a way that doesn't compromise economic growth.

He's calling for an "all of the above strategy" that continues drilling for fossil fuels as well as developing renewable sources of energy. Perry says Texas took the lead in wind energy development during his 14 years in office.

As a presidential candidate, Perry once forgot that the Energy Department was an agency he had pledged to eliminate.

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