Shaun Donovan confirmed to serve as OMB director

WASHINGTON, July 10 (UPI) -- The Senate confirmed Shuan Donovan, the outgoing secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to his new post as director of the Office of Management and Budget Thursday.

Senators voted 75-22, with 23 Republicans joining with Democrats to support his nomination to the Cabinet-level position.

Donovan will replace former OMB Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who took over as secretary of Health and Human Services from Kathleen Sebelius last month. On Wednesday, the Senate also confirmed San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro to serve as the new HUD secretary to replace Donovan.

Some Republicans, including several who eventually voted for Donovan's confirmation, expressed some reservations over answers Donovan gave to questions from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Some of his answers were copied directly from President Obama's budget proposal, while others were identical to those submitted by Burwell in her nomination process last year.

Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., said Donovan eventually resubmitted his answers.

But Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, himself a former OMB director, said that while Donovan's "budget experience could be greater," "he is a bright guy."

Portman voted for Donovan's confirmation Thursday.