Posted on 11/28/2018 4:47:53 PM PST by yesthatjallen
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) announced Wednesday that he is canceling votes on nearly two dozen of President Trump’s judicial nominees that were expected to come up in the Judiciary Committee this week.
The cancellation of the committee’s Thursday business meeting comes as Senate Republicans are in a standoff with outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who has vowed to oppose all court picks until he gets a vote on legislation protecting special counsel Robert Mueller.
The notification from the Judiciary Committee didn’t specify when, or if, the committee votes on the nominations would be rescheduled. Six circuit court nominees had been expected to get a vote, as well as 15 district court nominees.
But Grassley warned late Wednesday afternoon that he would likely cancel the meeting unless he could get a deal with Flake that would allow the nominations to move forward.
“We haven’t cancelled the meeting yet,” Grassley said roughly an hour before the announcement. “If we don’t get a positive out of it, we’ll probably cancel the meeting.”
Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate allowing them to move Trump's nominees despite Flake as long as the remaining 50 Republican senators remain united.
But on the Judiciary Committee Republicans are limited to a 11-10 majority meaning they need Flake's support unless they can get help from Democrats.
"We can vote on all the people who cleared the committee," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the No. 2 Republican senator and member of the Judiciary Committee. "But in terms of getting a vote out of committee we need his help."
Flake reiterated earlier Wednesday that he remains committed to opposing nominees until he gets a vote on the Mueller protection bill. He tried to get consent to schedule a vote on the bill Wednesday but was blocked by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who warned that the legislation was unconstitutional.
The resolution, which cleared the Judiciary Committee earlier this year, would protect Mueller, or any other special counsel, in the event he is fired, but the bill has stalled amid opposition from GOP leadership.
The bill would codify Justice Department regulations that say only a senior department official could fire Mueller or another special counsel.
It would give a special counsel an "expedited review" of their firing. If a court determines that it wasn't for "good cause," the special counsel would be reinstated.
Nope, the 53 only count on the Floor Vote. One guy on the Committee can hold off the floor Vote, which is what Flake is doing. You will never see a Rat on the Committee Vote for any of POTUS Trump’ Nominees.
If any traitorous GOP bastard votes no in Committee, we have a problem.
Not til Jan 3rd.
The new Congress takes office at that time.
Give it to him for me, Az Joe!
Flake doesn’t give a rat’s rear about those of us in Arizona. That is why he was polling in the mid-teens last year (among Republicans!), and why he didn’t try for re-election.
Flake(y) is a jackass with a “face in need of a good punching.” Don’t quite remember what the elegant German term for that expression is.
Someone from California wants to lecture Arizona? On not being conservative enough? YGBSM. Like a lot of Mormons, Flake has TDS. And he is now probably trying to suck up to democrats for a lobbying job in DC 60 days from now.
Those two angry, Mexican elevator ladies scared Flake’s gonads off. The boy ain’t right in the head.
Make it known to Flake that any company who hires him will be ignored by the Senate. Also tell Flake that the house he owns will be condemned as not fit for human habitation and torn down. Tell Flake that wherever he drives, he will receive countless tickets for speeding and running stop signs. Finally inform Flake that he cannot buy food, gas or clothing in Arizona or within 500 miles of Arizona.
The US Constitution, Section 5, clause 1, stipulates that only “a Majority of each [chamber] shall constitute a Quorum to do Business”.
Why not forget the committee.
Backpfeifengesicht
Yes, But will there be other Republican nays aside from flake? I thought he was blocking approval in committee, but I could be mistaken.
Sen. Jeff Flake is a US Senator from Arizona, which seems to mean he was destined to be a small, petty, spiteful man. Nnot many men from Arizona fit that description, but it seems to fit far too many of their recent US Senators.
You are correct. McConnell ought to simply replace him.
The House has nothing to do with seating Judges. Flake is gone forever in early January along with Ryan and Corker; two other snowflakes. Republicans will have a stronger majority in Jan. and they are talking about reducing the number on the Judicial committee so Flake won't be replaced at all and one junior dem will have to go. That would be Kamala Harris; the flaming biatch from hell.
Flake needs to flake off.
Dearest majority of AZ voters: Are you lunatics electing such an apparent lunatic?
Great news! Thanks for sharing.
 Fecal Flake Fails Again! |
Flatten ze nose; said like spreken ze deutsch?
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