Posted on 02/01/2022 6:55:06 PM PST by RandFan
News of Sen. Ben Ray Luján’s (D-N.M.) stroke sent shockwaves through the Senate on Tuesday, underscoring the fragility of Democrats’ 50-50 majority.
Democrats are in the majority because they have 50 seats and the ability for Vice President Harris to break a tie. Luján’s absence leaves them at 49 seats until he returns, with his office saying he’s expected to make a full recovery.
“It's just a reminder that in a 50-50 Senate any unexpected development could be a challenge to our moving forward on an agenda that the Democratic caucus shares,” said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who said he was very optimistic that the 49-year-old Luján would make a full recovery.
Underscoring the narrow majority, Democrats on the Commerce Committee, which Luján is a member of, almost immediately yanked three nominations that were expected to get votes on Wednesday. An aide noted that the agenda was being "recalibrated to take into consideration the need for all Democratic votes in order to move certain nominees forward."
The announcement appeared to catch senators off guard.
“Oh my god. I didn’t know that,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat.
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), asked by reporters about Luján, said it was the first time that he was hearing the news.
“Oh, my God. I’ll find out. I did not know that, wow, ” Tester said.
Democrats still technically outnumber GOP senators for now.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) is in quarantine for the week because of COVID-19. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) also announced on Tuesday that he went into quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican, said that he expected Romney and Hoeven back next week.
Luján’s office didn’t immediately respond to question about when he could return to the Capitol. But in a statement they said that Lujan—who at 49 is young by Senate terms—is “expected to make a full recovery.”
It’s not the first time that an absence has deprived Democrats of 50 votes and thrown the schedule into question.
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) testing positive for the coronavirus, combined with the threat of a snowstorm, forced Schumer to delay, by a matter of days, votes on election-related legislation and an effort to change the legislative filibuster.
Democrats also delayed votes earlier this year after Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) was stuck in his car for roughly 27 hours as he tried to travel back to Washington, D.C., with the interstate at a standstill because of snow and ice.
Democrats are currently plowing through 20 nominees that Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has teed up for votes, which is expected to eat up the Senate floor for this week and next week.
Democrats can confirm Biden’s nominees without Lujan at the moment because of the GOP absences. If all GOP senators are present, they’ll need Republican help to confirm the nominees.
Other key pieces of the Democratic agenda are in limbo anyways, meaning they won’t be impacted by Luján’s absence.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) reiterated on Tuesday that the version of Build Back Better that passed the House is “dead.” Democratic leaders and the White House have been careful to sidestep committing to a demand from House progressives that they pass the bill by March 1.
Democrats are waiting for Biden to name his replacement to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court. He’s pledged to name his pick by the end of February but even once he does, it’s expected to take at least a month for the Senate to get to a final confirmation vote.
There are also bipartisan discussions happening on Russia sanctions and reforming the Electoral Count Act as well as a looming deadline to fund the government by Feb. 18.
It’s unusual but not unheard of for someone that young to have a stroke.
I’ve heard of teenagers getting them. I hope he recovers…
And his face and hands were pressed against the side window the whole time.....
So Sen. Diane Feinstein has resurrected from the dead pool?
He should stay in DC and take advantage of the fantastic National Rehabilitation Hospital.
LOL at the Democrat reactions of OMG.
Guess who recently got the VAX ?
https://ladailypost.com/u-s-rep-ben-ray-lujan-receives-coronavirus-vaccine/
Good find sir!
“Why would anyone vote Dem to bury America?”
Free stuff. Grandpa and Daddy voted democrat. Socialism gonna work this time. Uneducated and ill informed. Vote stealing.
Im sure theres more reasons.
The Democrats wish this Senator had died once he had a stroke so the New Mexico governor could appoint another Democrat to be an interim Senator. Now that seat is effectively vacant and so the Democrats can’t get bills like Build Back Better passed, even if all the Democrats voted in favor.
“Who is in the ‘5’? Rand Paul”
Yes. He’s good. But he did not object to the election fraud and is complicit in the steal.
He needs to be voted out.
Paging the ‘stand in’ for Bernie.
Weekend ahead...
He will be 50 in June...
Strokes are serious illness, especially when surgery is required...
a message is being sent...
JMO
Really? This was the big news FOX and others couldn’t stop reporting on for a week after that early Jan snowstorm.
Big back-up on 95 around Fredericksburg. Only occasionally was Tim Kline mentioned. That’s how big the back-up story was.
Who’s a female?
His Vax was over a year ago.
13 months ago…
I hope he recovers as quickly and fully as possible.
And then retires.
Come on man (to quote pedojoe), it’s New Mexico; their all a bunch of socialist open boarders IDIOTS!
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