Right before the Senate adjourned for the August recess today, Senate Majority Leader Reid filed for cloture on the nomination of Chicago/Harvard law professor Cass Sunstein to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The motion means a Senate floor debate will take place in September, with confirmation expected.

Senate Republicans have apparently lifted their holds against Sunstein, but several want an opportunity to speak about the nomination on the floor (and about regulatory policy, one hopes). Objections to Sunstein over animals rights and the Second Amendment still turn up in the blogosphere, but in his confirmation hearing and one-on-one meetings Sunstein appears to have satisfied Senators' concerns.

Still, Sunstein was not included in nominees approved today by unanimous consent, i.e., no debate, no formal vote.

However, the Senate did confirm former Anne Northup and Robert Adler to serve on the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Once they are sworn in, the CPSC will be up to its full five-member complement.