The confirmation of Rep. Hilda Solis, D-El Monte, as President Barack Obama's Labor secretary has been delayed because of Republican objections.

    Democrats have announced that a Republican senator is using a parliamentary procedure to delay Solis' confirmation, the Washington paper Congress Daily reported Friday.

    The anonymous hold - as the tactic is known - was placed because of Solis' support for "card check" legislation aimed at facilitating union organization and another bill regarding pay-discrimination, and for non-responsive answers during her confirmation hearing, according to GOP aides, the paper reported.

    During her nomination hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Solis deferred questions on the controversial card check bill to Obama, to the frustration of GOP committee members, who strongly oppose the legislation.

    The Health committee must still vote on Solis's nomination before it can move to the full Senate, at which point the hold would become active.

    The committee had scheduled two meetings during which Solis' nomination could have been voted on, including one on Wednesday, however both have been postponed.

    The delays were related to another agenda item, according to a Democratic committee staff member. He said Republicans were responsible for the delays.

    Holds were also placed on other Obama nominees, including his choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency. However, they were lifted after a short delay.

    A senatorial hold is an informal practice that allows a single senator to anonymously delay a vote on a nomination or bill by telling Senate leadership of his or her opposition, and potential to filibuster efforts to move the legislation or nomination forward. The hold can, technically, be overridden by a vote of 60 senators, like any filibuster. However, such votes are rare as the senatorial hold is considered one of the prerogatives of each senator.