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McConnell sets up votes on six Trump nominees
The Hill ^ | February 13, 2017 | Jordain Carney

Posted on 02/13/2017 6:20:28 PM PST by jazusamo

McConnell sets up votes on six Trump nominees
© Getty

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is teeing up votes on six additional Trump nominees as Republicans try to end a Democratic slow walk of the president's picks.

McConnell filed cloture on Monday night for Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) to lead the Office of Management and Budget, Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Wilbur Ross to head the Commerce Department, Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) to be the Interior secretary, Ben Carson to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to be Energy secretary.

The move sets up initial votes for all of Trump's nominees still left on the Senate calendar, which allows them to come before the full Senate.

Democrats could easily drag out votes on the six nominees for more than a week and the Senate is poised to leave town on Friday for the week-long Presidents Day recess.

Absent a deal the Senate will take its first vote on Mulvaney Wednesday and a final vote as early as Thursday. That would tee up a first vote for Pruitt on Thursday, with Democrats able to drag out debate time and delay a final vote on the EPA hopeful's nomination into Friday night.

Under Senate rules if leadership wants to skip over the 30 hours of debate on any nominee they need to get an agreement, potentially giving Democrats the leverage to drag out debate on any one nominee for days.

Though Democrats will likely put up a fight over Mulvaney other picks-like Perry and Zinke—are considered less controversial.

Asked about the Democratic strategy on Monday, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) demurred.

"As we've said we feel we have done the country a service for exposing these nominees for who they are," he told reporters asked if Democrats would drag out the clock. "For the big eight we're going to give them full scrutiny and there may be others we give full scrutiny to as well."

Mulvaney was included as part of the eight Trump nominees Democrats were most opposed to.

The Senate will also hold a hearing this week for Andy Puzder, who has picked to lead the Labor Department and is also a top target of opposition for Democrats.

Schumer urged Trump to withdraw the nomination amid a growing controversy about Puzder hiring an undocumented immigrant and failing to pay taxes on the household employee.

The Senate confirmed David Shulkin to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs and Steve Mnunchin to be Treasury secretary on Monday. Under a deal announced late last week they will vote on Linda McMahon's nomination to lead the Small Business Administration on Tuesday.



TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cabinet; cabinetnominees; mcconnell; schumer; trump; trumpcabinet
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To: jazusamo
All of Obama's leftist, filthy Marxist cabinet choices were confirmed within days. Some before he was inaugurated the first time.

This is simply inexcusable. All of Trump's choices should have been confirmed already, so Trump would have been ready to rock and roll.

21 posted on 02/13/2017 8:00:33 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (STOP THE TAPE!)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Absolutely...The RATS from the top leadership down have no class at all.

They’re showing exactly why President Trump was elected though he was the underdog.

Decent Americans are fed up with the RATS BS and are digging their grave deeper.


22 posted on 02/13/2017 8:07:51 PM PST by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Cobra64

The degenerate malignancy takes some pride in that. What an absolute putz.


23 posted on 02/13/2017 8:14:53 PM PST by hal ogen (First Amendment or reeducation camp?)
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To: jazusamo

Dig DEEP dims. What a bunch of uncivil losers.


24 posted on 02/13/2017 8:18:01 PM PST by hal ogen (First Amendment or reeducation camp?)
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To: jazusamo

Yeh, scrutiny for a four term Governor of Texas and a famous neurosurgeon. Schumer ESAD!


25 posted on 02/14/2017 7:32:14 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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