Senate poised to confirm first black Secretary of Defense
Still no deal in 50/50 Senate as GOP keeps control over committees
Yes, Democrats are in charge of the Senate. But not the Senate committees, yet. Lloyd Austin will be confirmed today for Secretary of Defense. And Republicans in Congress retreat and regroup. This is “Regular Order” for January 22, 2021.
FRIDAY HILL HIGHLIGHTS.
+ Senate Finance Committee votes on Janet Yellen for Treasury Secretary. 10 am.
+ Full Senate to vote on Defense Secretary nomination around 10:30 am.
+ Democrats press for other Biden Cabinet votes today.
PENTAGON CHIEF. With approval of a special waiver by Congress on Thursday, retired Gen. Lloyd Austin is ready for final Senate confirmation this morning for the job of Defense Secretary. Austin will be the first African American to hold that position, and will be the second Cabinet nominee approved for President Joe Biden.
DEM FLIP FLOP. Four years ago, only 36 House Democrats voted for a waiver to allow James Mattis to serve as Secretary of Defense for President Trump. 150 voted against it. But since it was their own party’s President asking for the same waiver, things were much different. This time Democrats voted 205-15 in favor.
BIDEN CABINET. The familiar Senate tug of war on nominations has started for Joe Biden. Democrats want to get his Treasury Secretary and Secretary of State approved before going home for the weekend. But if just one GOP Senator stands in the way on Friday, then those votes will be delayed until next week.
BUTTIGIEG. Pete Buttigieg is on his way to an easy confirmation as Transportation Secretary. At a Thursday hearing, the former mayor of South Bend was well received by both parties. He could be approved next week. It will be much tougher to develop plans to pay for new roads and bridges.
WHO'S IN CHARGE? This is not a trick question. Democrats are in the charge of the Senate - but Republicans are still in charge of Senate committees. That’s because there’s no power sharing agreement between the parties yet in the 50/50 Senate. The delay is preventing Democrats from fully taking control, and organizing the Senate.
WAIT. WHAT?. Without getting too technical, the Senate must pass an organizing resolution for the new Congress. The last time it was 50/50 in 2001, the two sides worked out a deal. But now Republicans want an explicit assurance that Democrats won’t try to do away with the filibuster in a divided Senate.
CHECK THE WEB. Go to the Finance Committee website. It still lists the Republican “Chairman,” and the Democratic “Ranking Member.” Same thing in the Judiciary Committee. And one Senate committee website still lists Lamar Alexander (R-TN) as Chairman even though his term ended on January 3.
IMPEACHMENT UPDATE. The Trump impeachment trial in the Senate remains TBD. Republicans are asking for the trial to begin in mid-February, setting out a proposed timeline for pre-trial briefs in coming weeks. Democrats say they're looking at the proposal. Speaker Pelosi says the plan is still to go forward with the trial.
IMPEACH BIDEN. As promised, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) filed an impeachment resolution against President Biden on Thursday. Greene did not choose to go immediately to the House floor to force action on her resolution (it would be privileged), which focuses on Biden’s time as Vice President.
GOP REGROUPS. With Donald Trump gone, Republicans in Congress have swiftly focused their criticism of President Biden and Democrats on two issues: immigration and climate change. "President Biden's immigration and border policies will lead to historic surges at our southern border,” said Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ). Look for Republicans to press hard on illegal immigration and border wall funding.
CLIMATE CHANGE. While the Biden move to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement is mainly ceremonial, the GOP painted it as the Green New Deal run amok. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said the move would 'cost American jobs and force households and small business to pay higher utility bills.'
THE REALITY. Democrats may be able to nibble around the edges on immigration and climate change with executive actions, but their majorities are way too thin in Congress to pass any major legislation. That reality won't stop the GOP from hammering on those issues.
CAPITOL ATTACK. More interesting stories emerged on Friday. The guy arrested in New Jersey who called himself a "Dating + Relationship Strategist." A Florida Man who openly talked about his part in the Capitol attack in the local paper, and was then arrested. And a Michigan man who stood out because his weapon was a hockey stick. Plus a Texas man who was excited about being seen on TV. “I made the news.”
ETHICS COMPLAINT. A group of Democrats has asked the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) over the Capitol Attack. "Senators Cruz and Hawley lent legitimacy to the mob's cause," the Democrats wrote, accusing the two GOP Senators of amplifying baseless claims of election fraud. Read the complaint here.
NO GUN VOTE. Speaker Pelosi had vowed to hold a vote this week on a plan to levy fines on lawmakers who refuse to go through new metal detectors just off the House floor. But there was no resolution, no debate, and no vote. A number of Republicans have expressed anger over the new security measures - which may indicate more lawmakers are carrying a gun inside the Capitol than one might have expected.
A BAD FRIDAY. There was bipartisan outrage on Thursday night after National Guard soldiers were forced to take breaks in Senate underground parking garages - instead of inside the rather empty (and warm) Capitol Visitor’s Center. While the situation was resolved after bipartisan outrage, the Capitol Police may have a lot of explaining to do about who made the decision, and why.
MUSE OF HISTORY. On this date in 2002, the Hart Senate Office building - home to around half of Senate offices - finally reopened after the September 2001 anthrax attack. The building was closed October 17, 2001 when an anthrax-laden envelope was opened in the mail room of Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD). I will never forget hearing the positive test for anthrax being reported by USCP officers over the police scanner.
UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:
House meets next on Monday at 1:30 pm.
Senate meets at 10 am.
President Biden is in Washington.
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“Conference reports may be brought up at any time. Any further program will be announced later.”
Jamie. How are Republicans able to retain control of Senate Committees after losing the majority?
I can't imagine how the anthrax attack must have scared everyone working in places like the Capitol. For most of us it was one of those "how terrible" things that we knew would never effect us.