Republicans vote to suspend committee rules, advance Mnuchin, Price nominations

CNN ^ | Feb 1, 2017 | MJ Lee, Phil Mattingly and Manu Raju

[Truth29]

Senate Republicans took an extraordinary step Wednesday to move forward with two of President Donald Trump's top Cabinet nominees after confronting a boycott from Democrats across the aisle.

Republican lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee -- the panel that oversees the nomination of Steve Mnuchin to be Treasury secretary and Rep. Tom Price to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services -- gathered for the second day in a row with Democrats on the committee refusing to show up. Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, pointing to the "extraordinary circumstances" of the meeting, allowed the Republicans on the committee to vote to suspend the rules of the committee. Hatch said the Senate Parliamentarian approved of the procedural maneuver.

[novemberslady]

Lisa Murkowski speaking about Devos nomination says after careful consideration she will not vote to for her.

[novemberslady]

Murkowski cares more about maintaining public schools than she does about a choice for parents.
Even after making Mrs. Devos kiss her ass over vouchers and choice for parents it was all for show...

[novemberslady]

Basically she just told people to go F themselves.
Keep paying the bill for the indoctrination of your children because she's a senator from Alaska, and she knows better than you do.
Just shut up and keep paying the bill.

[Truth29]

"Lisa Murkowski speaking about Devos nomination says after careful consideration she will not vote to for her."

Sounds like it is time to order up a Moose to take a bite out of her.

[NeoCaveman]

Murkowski is a no, and Collins is leaning No.

This one might be a squeaker.

[luvie]

Finally...they found some courage to blow off the Dems! Finally!

[Truth29]

May need Joe Manchin or another endangered Dem to cross over. Time for the deal making to begin?

[Cheerio]

Is it possible some in the GOP have gotten a spine transplant?? Looking like it.

[N8VTXNinWV]

Manchin tweeted about three hours ago that he is not voting for her.

[Truth29]

Now is really is a nail biter. We need the Dept of Education reformed or abolished badly. The school systems are churning out more leftist drones every year and assuring an endless supply of unthinking dependents for the Democrat political machines.

[Tea Party Terrorist]

What the Republicans did was within the rules, according to the Parliamentarian.

Suspending the rules with unanimous consent is within the rules on the respective floors of each chamber.

[tbw2]

I really hope this means Republicans are going to go forward and not let Democrats stonewall nominations.

[rfp1234]

In case DeVos is rejected, Trump should appoint someone who can oversee the dismantlement of this useless department. Just transfer its basic functions to HHS first, then phase it out.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

My God! Hatch actually showed some courage.

“Here comes the Big One! I’m coming Ethel”

[thirst4truth]

It is my two Senators that are causing problems for these committee hearings. Wyden, D from OR is the ringleader in the walk out, its all they have, and Merkley, D OR is the one who said he is filibustering the Supreme Court nominee even before he was announced. Losers to the max, both of them.

[N8VTXNinWV]

I agree. I think the only reason Manchin is voting against her is because his wife was just appointed Secretary of Education and the Arts in West Virginia.