Posted on 12/10/2013 8:57:39 AM PST by markomalley
The Senate voted 56-38 Tuesday to confirm Patricia Millett to the D.C. Circuit Court, making her the first nominee of President Obama’s to clear the Senate since Democrats unilaterally changed the rules in a vote last month. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) voted with Democrats.
The rule change means only 51 votes are needed to end a filibuster on nominations below the level of the Supreme Court.
The move outraged Republicans, who said Democrats had severely undermined minority rights in the upper chamber. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) triggered the “nuclear option” to make the change. It allows the Senate’s rules to be changed by a majority vote. “This was a pure power grab, plain and simple,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said ahead of the vote Tuesday. “If the majority party can’t be expected to follow the rules, then there are no rules.”
Republicans have warned that in response, they would seek to use other rules to slow the Senate’s procedure to a crawl.
"I’m pleased that in a bipartisan vote, the Senate has confirmed Patricia Millett to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, filling a vacancy that has been open since 2005," President Obama said in a statement. "Ms. Millett is a leading appellate lawyer who has made 32 arguments before the Supreme Court, the second-most by a female advocate. She has served in the Department of Justice for both Democratic and Republican Presidents. I’m confident she will serve with distinction on the federal bench."
A second nominee is expected to be approved when the Senate considers Rep. Mel Watt’s (D-N.C.) nomination to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
The Senate is expected to vote to end debate on Watt’s nomination later Tuesday. After up to eight hours of debate, the Senate will proceed to his confirmation vote.
The D.C. Circuit is often considered the second most powerful bench in the country because it has jurisdiction over most federal agencies.
The nominations of Millett and two other judges to the court set off the fight between Senate Republicans and Democrats.
Republicans warned that Democrats would regret the “irrevocable” change once they are in the minority.
“Washington Democrats changed our democracy irrevocable,” McConnell said. “And to what end, to pack the courts.”
Let’s hope so.
The Dictator changes the rules of the dictatorship to make the surfs think they actually still have a voice. NOT! The sheeple continue to roll over for free stuff and give the Dictator of Sodom on the Potomac all he wants to rule.
“Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) voted with Democrats”
Thank You GOPe. Go Ted Cruz.
You can be sure that in the (unlikely) event that control of the Senate changes hands, the Democrats will demand that the rule be changed back so they can block conservative appointments.
And the GOP-establishment will fold like a card table. This is a question that should be put to Tea Party candidates: will you give as good as you get?
Of course they will. A gang of Rino’s will come along and before the week is up, they’ll change the rules back.
Who were the GOPers voting "Present"?!
It is why there needs to be a review of these behaviors and punishment of them.
“The DC court is the one making the decision about the F&F Executive Order I believe. That decision had been due to come down soon. My suspicion is that Obama wanted to pack the court in order to change the outcome.”
The majority of the DC circuit I believe is still held by old Reagan, Bush I, and then Bush II appointees. Which means some are getting up there in age. Taking back control of the Senate next year is critical.
It is nice when both parties remove term limits and install absolute powers for themselves.... the country, what country, the party is heaven.
So the usual gang of Republican idiots in the Senate did an overnight “budget compromise” to end the bickering and partisanship in Washington.
Six weeks later, the Democrats rewarded Republicans by shutting them out of power.
The moral of the story? Tea baggers are evil racists.
Now go pay your taxes, your government is broke. :)
Right now that is true...but as far as I understand there are some vacancies there.
Obama is trying to fill those in order to pull the court to the left.
From what I understand, this may impact the F&F issue as well as upcoming Obamacare decisions.
Yes..... I’ll write again that when Murkowski lost to Miller in the primary, John Cornyn sent paid lawyers to defend HER and help HER get that write in victory.
When I called his office some young punk barked at me that they HAD to send lawyers to defend a sitting Senator. I politely said MILLER won the primary and beat her fair and square and he snarked back the same “had to defend....sitting senator”. Cornyn is head of the Senatorial committee. Scum all.
Murkowski is not a Republican.
She ran as an independent after losing the primary.
Not Voting - 6
Cochran (R-MS)
Coons (D-DE)
Cruz (R-TX)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kirk (R-IL)
Vitter (R-LA)
When?
Where did you find that voting info?
Thanks for posting. I hope they each follow up with their explanation which must obviously be a sign of “Protest” against the nuclear option which Dingy Harry used (at least for Sen. Cruz).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.