9 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
ArcticStones's avatar

"So basically the House will be either 220–215 or 221–214. Depending on when Stefanik and Waltz resign, and when DeSantis can schedule a special election in Gaetz’s district, it could be 217–215 (Rs will have zero votes to spare) or 218–214 (1 vote to spare) for a short time."

– Adam Carlson

Expand full comment
Gina Mann's avatar

Senate Dems need to get on board to confirm Stefanik and Waltz as soon as possible and then Governor Hochul needs to drag out NY-21 special for as long as possible to keep the vacancy and then also give whoever the sacrificial lamb Democrat will be time to build a ground game and get some money.

Expand full comment
ArcticStones's avatar

The Senate should concentrate its time on confirming as many of Biden’s judges as possible. Spending any time on hearings for and debate on Stefanik and Waltz would detract from that. Let that wait until after New Year’s.

Every confirmed Biden judge is one less extremist judge from Trump. That really matters!

Expand full comment
Gina Mann's avatar

Of course that's what I mean. Trump hasn't even been inaugurated yet anyway. Senate confirmation would come after that. Then Hochul needs to draw out the special.

Expand full comment
Paleo's avatar

They can walk and chew gum at the same time.

Expand full comment
ArcticStones's avatar

Senate floor time and the Judiciary Committee’s agenda has only so much room during this session. There are 5 circuit judges and 12 district judges awaiting confirmation. as well as 12 more awaiting hearings and/or committee votes. And those 29 are only the ones already in the pipeline.

These confirmations, and at best a few additional ones, is all there is time for.

You might be able to walk and chew gum at the same time – but that is not the way of the Senate.

Expand full comment
Henrik's avatar

Especially those 5 circuit judges - there’s no bigger priority right now than getting them over the line

Expand full comment
GThorpe's avatar

Agree. One circuit judge is to have a confirmation vote on Monday. The rest are pending in Senate. There is a time issue in that I believe it takes a day or two longer to bring a circuit judge to a vote than a district court judge.

Expand full comment
ArcticStones's avatar

I don’t know Senate rules, but I don’t understand why Schumer doesn’t file many more clotures: 5 or 10 at a time. He ought to also consider keeping the Senate working longer hours, Fridays or even weekends. And each vote doesn’t need to take an hour.

Schumer needs to bring those judges over the goal line!

Expand full comment