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Posted on 04/25/2018 2:01:06 PM PDT by jazusamo
Looking to speed the confirmation process for a backlog of President Trump’s appointments, Senate Republicans on Wednesday advanced a measure to cut down on floor debate time for certain executive branch and judicial nominees.
Republicans said Democrats forced their hand on the issue by making the Senate devote too much floor time over the past year to clearing procedural hurdles on even non-controversial and lower-level nominees.
“Pointless wasting time, even when we know what the outcome is going to be, is what we’re talking about here today,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The change, pushed by Sen. James Lankford, Oklahoma Republican, passed the rules committee on a party-line, 10-9 vote.
The rules change would cut down the maximum debate time for non-Cabinet executive branch nominees from 30 hours to eight hours, and for district court nominees from 30 hours to two.
Thanks to Democrats’ use of the “nuclear option” on rules changes in 2013, they can’t unilaterally stop most of President Trump’s nominations, which can advance on simple majority votes. Republicans currently hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate.
But under the current rules of the Senate, Democrats can throw up procedural roadblocks and force nominations to eat up 30 hours — or more — of floor time, often stretching their consideration over several days once they hit the floor.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Anyone know?
The measure hasn’t been approved yet. Don’t expect these spineless cowards to automatically vote for it.
This is great news!
And yes, they can change the rules with a simple majority vote. A majority of members can overrule the parliamentarian.
Great! Thanks so much for your reply.
What confused me were the last three paragraphs of the article.
so why in the hell have they waited this long RINOs - well because you’re RINOs....so desperately want to keep majorities in both branches so Trump can rule and Trump to be reelected - to keep the MAGA but also to have full control over the RINOs that are left in the last 4 years and give them the sh*t they deserve for screwing him over these first 16 months!!
They’re in charge. They should start acting like it by doing things like this, or they won’t be in charge after November.
Amen to that.
Chuckie and his fellow obstructionist Rats will be having fits.
Should have been done the first the dims hit the 30 hour button the first time.
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Don’t get too excited about it coming out of committee....
It’ll probably not come to a floor vote for another month......
Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends
Maybe he fears for his possible loss of power.
Mitch, this didn’t dawn on you about a year ago? Really?
Bump!
Change it to 30 minutes with a snap back at the end of the session. These guys don’t play for keeps
McTurtle will never let the Senate vote on it!
It’s called slow-walking, and it’s intended to allow time to expire when you are playing a waiting game.
He knows what he’s doing. He was never going to allow a non-politician to come in and fix things. It would be a slap in the face to the “political professionals” McConnell and his fellow travelers think of themselves as being.
I don’t doubt in the least you’re right.
Mitch plays both sides and maybe this is a sign he knows we’re going to keep control of both Houses.
“...The rules change would cut down the maximum debate time for non-Cabinet executive branch nominees from 30 hours to eight hours, and for district court nominees from 30 hours to two....”
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This would be OUTSTANDING. The odds are that McConnell is, at this moment, pulling strings & having arms twisted to prevent it from coming to pass.
The Turtleman wants to know WHAT’S IN IT FOR CHINA?
I read this excerpt from an article on this subject recently posted at the Hill, it looks like McConnell is backing this.
“The proposal got a jolt of momentum Wednesday when the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, which includes Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), approved the rules change in a 10-9 party-line vote.”
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