Associated Press reports that the nominee for Labor Secretary, East L.A./San Gabriel Valley Congresswoman Hilda Solis, has been approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Her nomination now goes before the full Senate. Last week Solis' confirmation ran aground after it became known that her husband, Sam Sayyad, had failed to pay taxes on his car repair business, Sam's Foreign and Domestic Auto Center. That disclosure had aroused speculation that Solis' nomination might be headed toward the same trouble that ultimately scuttled the appointments of three other Obama choices, including Tom Daschle, who'd been tapped to head the Health and Human Services Department.

Some saw last week's stall as a roadblock by Republicans who cared less about Sayyad's taxes than Solis' long-standing alliances with organized labor — in particular, her support for the  Employee Free Choice Act, an upcoming piece of legislation that would streamline union efforts to organize in the workplace.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.