Senate Democrats to hold floor over DeVos nomination vote

[Right_in_Virginia]

Senate Democrats to hold floor over DeVos nomination vote
CNN, Feb 5, 2017, Ted Barrett


Senate Democrats said they plan to hold the floor of the chamber for the next 24 hours, leading up to the vote to confirm President Donald Trump's choice to be education secretary, in hopes of drawing enough attention to the issue to derail Betsy DeVos' nomination.

While the Democrats decision to work overnight adds publicity to the topic, the party does not have the numbers to block a final confirmation vote and DeVos is still expected to be voted on for final confirmation Tuesday.

"Democrats will hold the floor for the next 24 hours, until the final vote, to do everything we can to persuade just one more Republican to join us," Sen. Patty Murray of Washington said Monday. "And I strongly encourage people across the country to join us — to double down on your advocacy — and to keep making your voices heard for these last 24 hours."

Last week two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski, said they would no vote to confirm DeVos, but if all the remaining Republicans vote for her nomination, she would be confirmed with addition of Vice President Mike Pence's vote as the tie-breaker.


http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/06/politics/senate-democrats-to-hold-floor-over-devos-nomination-vote/index.html

[Right_in_Virginia]

They're looking to flip one more Republican.

[mystery-ak]

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/318083-democrats-plan-all-night-protest-ahead-of-devos-vote
Democrats plan all-night protest ahead of DeVos vote

[mystery-ak]

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/318089-schumer-to-gop-work-with-us-to-block-betsy-devos
Schumer to GOP: Work with us to block Betsy DeVos

[Restored]

There is nothing as compelling as an empty gesture.

[beandog]

Boy, Rats don't seem to like women do they.

I hate Rats.  That is all.

[don-o]

Democrats’ 24-hour talk-a-thon against Betsy DeVos proves how little power they actually have in Washington

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/02/06/the-democratic-protests-against-betsy-devos-prove-how-little-power-they-actually-have-in-washington/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.a7468397bfce

Senate Democrats took to Twitter just after noon Monday to make a MAJOR announcement: They would be holding the floor straight through the night to protest President Trump's nomination of Betsy DeVos as education secretary.

Big news, right? Democrats rising up in opposition to President Trump!

Not really, actually. In fact, Senate Democrats’ promised talk-a-thon is actually a sign of the relatively meager amount of power the party has these days when it comes to curtailing the president's wishes.

Here's why: Yes, Democrats can hold the floor all night and all Tuesday morning in advance of the confirmation vote on DeVos. But what they almost certainly can't do is stop her from becoming the secretary of education.

Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) announced last week that they wouldn't vote for DeVos. That meant that if just one more Republican came out against DeVos, her nomination would be doomed. But none did. People like Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania and Deb Fischer of Nebraska shut down speculation that they might be a third “no.” Over the weekend, the chatter over DeVos fell silent — suggesting that she would likely be confirmed on a 50-50 vote with Vice President Pence casting the deciding vote in her favor.

snip

[geronl]

Watching the GOP stand for Common Core, ObamaCare, higher taxes on imports, mega-spending stimulus etc etc

Makes me glad I'm not a member of their liberal party.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

There is a special place in hell reserved for women who don't support other women....

Someone should tell that to Feinstein, et al

[Frank Cannon]

The Senate floor tonight is going to stink of used Depends, patchouli and mothballs if the look of the Senate Rats is any indication.

[Wingnut]

The Senate floor tonight is going to stink of used Depends, patchouli and mothballs if the look of the Senate Rats is any indication.

and embalming fluid.  Some of those old rats leak about a pint an hour.