Senate Approves New IRS Chief

Initial Yellen vote expected later today

The U.S. Senate confirmed President Barack Obama's choice for commissioner of the troubled Internal Revenue Service on Friday.

The Senate voted 59-36 to approve John Koskinen, a consultant and turnaround specialist, to head the IRS as lawmakers acted on several administration appointments before adjourning for the year. Later Friday the Senate is expected to advance Janet Yellen's nomination to head the Federal Reserve to its next stage, setting up a final vote on her for early next year.

The vote for was largely along party lines. Five Republicans broke ranks to support confirmation, including Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah), the top Republican on the tax-writing Finance Committee, and Sens. Richard Burr (R., N.C.) and Rob Portman (R., Ohio), who also serve on the finance panel.