Senate sets Yellen confirmation vote

Janet Yellen will likely be confirmed to head the Federal Reserve in a matter of days, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

While laying out the Senate’s agenda for the coming days on the Senate floor Friday, Reid said the chamber will take up a number of nominees, including Yellen, beginning Wednesday.

{mosads}Yellen was expected to cruise to confirmation, even before Senate Democrats changed rules to make it even easier to confirm nominees. The current vice chairwoman of the Fed, Yellen was approved by the Senate Banking Committee in November, garnering the support of three Republican members along the way.

Under the new Senate rules, Yellen could be confirmed with just Democratic votes, and her support among that party has been steadfast. Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) has been the only Democrat to object to the pick, as he voted against her in committee.

If confirmed, Yellen would replace outgoing Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke whose term expires in January.