Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

FULL VOTE LIST FOR ZINKE CLOTURE:

YEAs ---67
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Burr (R-NC)
Capito (R-WV)
Cassidy (R-LA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Coons (D-DE)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Cotton (R-AR)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX)
Daines (R-MT)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Enzi (R-WY)
Ernst (R-IA)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Fischer (R-NE)
Flake (R-AZ)
Gardner (R-CO)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Heller (R-NV)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Kennedy (R-LA)
King (I-ME)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murphy (D-CT)
Nelson (D-FL)
Paul (R-KY)
Perdue (R-GA)
Portman (R-OH)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rounds (R-SD)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sasse (R-NE)
Scott (R-SC)
Shelby (R-AL)
Strange (R-AL)
Sullivan (R-AK)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Tillis (R-NC)
Toomey (R-PA)
Udall (D-NM)
Warner (D-VA)
Wicker (R-MS)
Young (R-IN)

NAYs ---31
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Hirono (D-HI)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)

Present - 1
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 1
Isakson (R-GA)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

10:30 AM Tomorrow:

FINAL VOTE on Zinke
CLOTURE VOTE on Carson

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Earlier Today, the senate voted 68-31 to confirm Zinke:

YEAs ---68
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Brown (D-OH)
Burr (R-NC)
Capito (R-WV)
Cassidy (R-LA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Coons (D-DE)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Cotton (R-AR)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX)
Daines (R-MT)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Enzi (R-WY)
Ernst (R-IA)
Fischer (R-NE)
Flake (R-AZ)
Gardner (R-CO)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Heller (R-NV)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Kennedy (R-LA)
King (I-ME)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murphy (D-CT)
Nelson (D-FL)
Paul (R-KY)
Perdue (R-GA)
Portman (R-OH)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rounds (R-SD)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sasse (R-NE)
Scott (R-SC)
Shelby (R-AL)
Strange (R-AL)
Sullivan (R-AK)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Tillis (R-NC)
Toomey (R-PA)
Udall (D-NM)
Warner (D-VA)
Wicker (R-MS)
Wyden (D-OR)
Young (R-IN)

NAYs ---31
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Hirono (D-HI)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)

Not Voting - 1
Isakson (R-GA)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Earlier Today, the senate voted 62-37 to invoke cloture on Carson:

YEAs ---62
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Brown (D-OH)
Burr (R-NC)
Capito (R-WV)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Cassidy (R-LA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Cotton (R-AR)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX)
Daines (R-MT)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Enzi (R-WY)
Ernst (R-IA)
Fischer (R-NE)
Flake (R-AZ)
Gardner (R-CO)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Heller (R-NV)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kennedy (R-LA)
King (I-ME)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Paul (R-KY)
Perdue (R-GA)
Portman (R-OH)
Reed (D-RI)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rounds (R-SD)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sasse (R-NE)
Scott (R-SC)
Shelby (R-AL)
Strange (R-AL)
Sullivan (R-AK)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Tillis (R-NC)
Toomey (R-PA)
Warner (D-VA)
Wicker (R-MS)
Young (R-IN)

NAYs ---37
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Peters (D-MI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 1
Isakson (R-GA)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

10:00 AM tomorrow:
FINAL VOTE on Carson
CLOTURE VOTE on Perry

We could see a FINAL VOTE on Perry Friday Afternoon, although that has not yet been confirmed by the floor monitor account.

How many Cabinet-level appointees are left?

After Carson and Perry are done, all that is left in the cabinet itself is Labor and Agriculture, but those haven't even had hearings yet for various reasons, so it could be a while. But of course, there are still  >100 deputies, ambassadors, and sub-agency heads to confirm, some of which Trump hasn't even decided on someone for yet.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

FULL VOTE LIST FOR CARSON CONFIRMATION:

YEAs ---58
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Brown (D-OH)
Burr (R-NC)
Capito (R-WV)
Cassidy (R-LA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Cotton (R-AR)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX)
Daines (R-MT)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Enzi (R-WY)
Ernst (R-IA)
Fischer (R-NE)
Flake (R-AZ)
Gardner (R-CO)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Heller (R-NV)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kennedy (R-LA)
King (I-ME)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Paul (R-KY)
Perdue (R-GA)
Portman (R-OH)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rounds (R-SD)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sasse (R-NE)
Scott (R-SC)
Shelby (R-AL)
Strange (R-AL)
Sullivan (R-AK)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Tillis (R-NC)
Toomey (R-PA)
Warner (D-VA)
Wicker (R-MS)
Young (R-IN)

NAYs ---41
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 1
Isakson (R-GA)


----------

The senate then voted to invoke Cloture on Rick Perry. A few hours later, after yielding back of post-cloture time, they voted to confirm Perry. Both the cloture and the confirmation votes were 62-37.

Rick Perry confirmed 62-37. 10 Democrats voted to confirm: Carper, Cortez Masto, Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin, McCaskill, Stabenow, Tester, Udall, Warner.

King also voted to confirm. Isakson did not vote.

It was Cardin, not Carper.

---------------

That is all the senate can vote on nomination-wise for now. Now they go back to holding hearings... that is once they're done waiting for ethics paperwork for Perdue and/or Acosta.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Rick Perry confirmed 62-37. 10 Democrats voted to confirm: Carper, Cortez Masto, Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin, McCaskill, Stabenow, Tester, Udall, Warner.

King also voted to confirm. Isakson did not vote.

It was Cardin, not Carper.

I'm seeing differing reports on this. Some say Cardin and others say Carper, but the Senate website says it was Carper.

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00079#position

It appears that on CLOTURE, Cardin voted Aye and Carper voted Nay, but on CONFIRMATION, Carper voted Aye and Cardin voted Nay. Talk about odd. Your link is for the confirmation vote. Cloture vote link below:

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00078

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The nomination of Seema Verma, who is to be head of Medicare/Medicaid, has been added to the senate executive calendar. No vote date set yet though.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Generally, I find myself of the mold that if Trump nominates a decent, qualified person for a cabinet post, Democrats should give them fair consideration and vote accordingly. That being said, why would any Democrats vote for people like Carson or Perry? They are not qualified to run their agencies. Carson is, well, Carson, and has no experience in pretty much anything HUD does. Perry literally didn't even know what the Energy Dept did before all of this, and couldn't even remember its name when he wanted to eliminate the agency, and somehow he is qualified to run it? Is this some elaborate joke or...?

I'm sorry, but even Democratic Senators from the reddest of red states should be able to go home and tell their constituents flat out that they have no problem voting for a clean, qualified nominee but not some random person (or donor/loyalist of Trump) who is blatantly not appropriate for the job. Just because Trump, or any president really, nominates someone does not mean they should automatically get the green light.

That only thing I can understand here is fears of losing reelection, but that doesn't explain the votes of people like Masto or Warner, among others.

Warner knows he isn't safe in that seat. Last time, the GOP publicly gave up on the race months before election day, but he still almost lost.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Jon Huntsman to be appointed Ambassador to Russia
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/jon-huntsman-ambassador-to-russia-235841

Really should be challenging Hatch instead.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

1:45 PM TOMORROW: CLOTURE VOTE on Verma.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Cloture vote on Verma now beginning

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Heitkamp: Aye
King: Aye
Manchin: Aye

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

So far, the vote is 38-19 Verma

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Nos flooding in, all from dems. Verma up 48-36 currently.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Cloture is invoked on Verma, 54-44. Two cowards didn't vote. FINAL VOTE scheduled for 5:30 PM Monday.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

You have to be flat out delusional to extremely stupid to thing Kerry was unqualified? John Kerry was one of the better persons to have served in SOS in decades, from Iran Deal to Paris Climate Deal & he was not soft with extremists like Netanyahu & Saudis like Bush was. He was a much better SoS than Hillary.

He is a war veteran with multiple purple hearts & studied law. He was the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the LG of Mass & a Senator for close to 20 years including a Presidential Nominee. You have to insanely dumb & a partisan hack to deny he is qualified !

Did anyone even bring up Kerry?

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Today, the senate voted 55-43 to confirm Seema Verma.

YEAs ---55
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Burr (R-NC)
Capito (R-WV)
Cassidy (R-LA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Cotton (R-AR)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX)
Daines (R-MT)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Enzi (R-WY)
Ernst (R-IA)
Fischer (R-NE)
Flake (R-AZ)
Gardner (R-CO)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Heller (R-NV)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kennedy (R-LA)
King (I-ME)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Paul (R-KY)
Perdue (R-GA)
Portman (R-OH)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rounds (R-SD)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sasse (R-NE)
Scott (R-SC)
Shelby (R-AL)
Strange (R-AL)
Sullivan (R-AK)
Thune (R-SD)
Tillis (R-NC)
Toomey (R-PA)
Wicker (R-MS)
Young (R-IN)

NAYs ---43
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 2
Isakson (R-GA)
Peters (D-MI)

The next items on the table are the preservation of Henry McMaster Jr's current military rank, and the nomination of Dan Coats to be Director of National Intelligence.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

How in the  do we not have a DNI yet

Well, DNI is not cabinet, and cabinet gets first priority. And the dems slowed down the cabinet so much that it hasn't been until now that there is a chance to get to other appointments.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

10 AM Tomorrow: CLOTURE VOTE on Coats

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Cloture vote on Coats is in progress. He's up 47-2 so far, receiving strong bipartisan support. Feinstein, Shaheen, Schatz, and Climbing Maggie have voted for him already along with a bunch of other dems.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Dan Coats passes Cloture, 88-11. YUGE margin.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

1:45 PM today:

FINAL VOTE on Coats
FINAL VOTE on McMaster Rank Preservation

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

FINAL VOTE on Coats now beginning.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

No votes so far:

Gillibrand
Warren
Sanders
Baldwin

Coats up 21-4 so far