Biden nominates wife of key Senate ally to posh federal position

President Joe Biden this week nominated to a posh federal position the wife of a key Senate ally, potentially signaling an attempt to bolster his legislative agenda in the U.S. Senate, including possibly the abolishment of the filibuster.

In an announcement on Friday, Biden said he was nominating Gayle Conelly Manchin for the federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission. Manchin is the wife of Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. 

The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development initiative meant to boost prospects of those living in Appalachia. It was founded in 1965 and covers regions in over a dozen states. 

According to FederalPay.org, the average salary for the commission in 2018 was over $144,000. 

Sen. Joe Manchin represents a critical fulcrum for Biden in the Senate. Manchin, a Democrat, is known for his moderate politics and his periodic votes against Democratic orthodoxy. 

The slim one-vote majority Democrats hold in that body means Biden will have to focus particularly on Manchin to ensure his legislative agenda can pass Congress, including potentially the elimination of the Senate filibuster. 

Gayle and Joe Manchin have been married for over 50 years.