Top Senate Republicans said Wednesday that there are unlikely to be additional votes on Biden Cabinet picks until after the impeachment trial.
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“We're not intentionally trying to slow it down but the Democrats have chosen the agenda, and they've chosen to do the budget resolution, so if there's a delay in nominations, it's because of their choice,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Cornyn added that Democrats also won’t be able to confirm nominees during the impeachment trial. Though the trial won’t start until the afternoon, Republicans have warned that they won’t provide consent to allow for additional legislation or nominations to be taken up during the morning.
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) pointed to Monday as a potential day when, with cooperation, an additional nominee could be confirmed. Tom Vilsack, Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Agriculture, was one pick Thune said there was wide bipartisan support for.
But otherwise Thune said that while trial negotiations are ongoing, “I think most of our members feel like until impeachment is done other business probably shouldn't get done now.”
The Hill
Why?
“There might be a window like on Monday before impeachment kicks in on Tuesday, when we can do a couple that are teed up."
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Thune also confirmed that absent GOP consent additional nominations will not be taken up on the Senate floor during the budget debate.
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Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters that he will try to set up a confirmation hearing for Merrick Garland, Biden's attorney general nominee, in the Judiciary Committee for Feb. 8, squeezing it in before the trial starts Tuesday.
Yeah, good luck. Durbin, as of yesterday's organizing agreement, is now chair of the Judicial Committee. He should be able to call for a hearing and vote at his discretion.
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