Posted on 03/03/2023 5:11:18 PM PST by bitt
President Biden’s agenda has hit a snag in the U.S. Senate, as medical-related absences for two Democrats have left his party without the critical 51-vote threshold it secured in last year’s midterm elections.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has been hospitalized with shingles and likely will not return until "later this month," the 89-year-old said in a statement Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is receiving treatment for clinical depression, and it is not yet clear when he will return. Those absences leave the fate of Biden’s legislative priorities and judicial nominees up in the air — at least temporarily.
"The danger of having such a small majority is that one or two illnesses can bring things to a halt. The administration has been aggressive and effective on judicial nominees, but that’s all on hold for now,’ political strategist Doug Heye told Fox News Digital.
In addition to Feinstein and Fetterman, two more senators also missed votes while away from Capitol Hill this week.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said Monday that he would be in Oregon for a "family matter" but would return "as soon as possible." His mother died Tuesday. On the other side of the aisle, Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, has been out due to a reported illness.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
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All geezers-our side too.
The trouble with cardboard cutout meat puppets...
Does that mean that the Turtle is the temporary majority leader???
“The danger of having such a small majority is that one or two illnesses can bring things to a halt.”
It is not a danger to us. The less they can do means less damage to the country.
I hope its a landslide preventing the passage of anything.
Why worry? They can always get Romney to do them a solid…
We do go through life wondering why our friends and relatives can get sick and perhaps pass away but that’s not true of politicians. Not to be unkind - well, not really - but good to see that what happens to NORMAL folks can also happen to those other types!
Additionally, we all know someone with dementia so it’s not possible that of the 435 US Representatives and 100 US Senators that NOT ONE suffers from it. Just not rational.
What other Dem could be on the way out?? It would delight me if it was Schumer.
Biden’s handlers have a headache. Biden’s only worry is the ice cream melting too fast.
ACT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
He need not worry. There are three reliable Rinos who’ll jump in to help. You know who they are!
One more loss and McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate may have to act like Republicans with a majority, even if only for a few votes. Bet they’ll arrange a few absences to avoid this power switch.
Just when you thought all the news was bad.
😛
Feinstein, Bluementhal, Carper, King, Cardin, Markey, Shaheen, Sanders
Risch, Grassley, McConnell
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