US Senate confirms Bernstein as top White House economist

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Jared Bernstein as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) in a 50-49 vote, elevating a longtime adviser to President Joe Biden who began his career as a jazz musician and social worker.

Biden nominated Bernstein, who was already a member of the council, on Feb. 14 to replace CEA chair Cecilia Rouse when she returned to Princeton University.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin was the sole Democrat to vote against Bernstein, saying he objected to the labor economist's economic philosophy and his refusal to embrace "necessary federal budget cuts."

Republican Tommy Tuberville was the only senator not voting, sparing Vice President Kamala Harris from the need to cast a tie-breaking vote.

Senate Banking Committee Chair Sherrod Brown urged senators again on Tuesday to confirm Bernstein, calling him "a highly qualified nominee" who had devoted his career to making the U.S. economy fairer. He criticized Republicans for voting against Bernstein "for the sake of partisanship."

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal. Editing by Gerry Doyle)