Biden Cabinet Confirmation Live Thread ***hearings, votes, etc.***

[Jay 🏳️‍⚧️]

Should we assume that Haaland and Fudge will be the last to be confirmed to keep the House margin for as long as possible?

I would personally confirm them early so you can go ahead and get the special elections rolling before the blockbuster legislation comes around

[AndyHogan14]

Committee hearings have been scheduled by the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for Cardona (2/3 at 10am) and Walsh (2/4 at 10am), so does that mean that the organizing resolution is expected to be done by Monday or Tuesday? Because as far as I can tell, Lamar Alexander is still the chair of that committee meaning that the new organizing resolution has not been passed.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Committee hearings have been scheduled by the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for Cardona (2/3 at 10am) and Walsh (2/4 at 10am), so does that mean that the organizing resolution is expected to be done by Monday or Tuesday?

I would assume that this means that a new chairman (Murray, presumably) is slated to be in place by then, yes.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Re: organizing resolution: potentially as soon as today

https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2021/01/28/schumer-mcconnell-senate-agreement-463472?__twitter_impression=true

Well that clearly didn't pan out.

Any news on what's going on there?

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Committee Activity for Next Week:

Feb. 2, 10:30 AM: Vilsack Hearing
Feb. 2, Time TBA: McDonough Committee Vote
Feb. 3, 10:00 AM: Cardona Hearing
Feb. 3, 10:00 AM: Raimondo Committee Vote
Feb. 3, 2 PM: Regan Hearing
Feb. 4, 10 AM: Walsh Hearing

Possible: Committee Votes on Fudge, Rouse, Granholm, Greenfield

[Tender Branson]

So, Becerca (Health) is among the last to be confirmed, during a pandemic situation ?

How stupid are the Senators of the US ?

[MaxQue]

So, Becerca (Health) is among the last to be confirmed, during a pandemic situation ?

How stupid are the Senators of the US ?

The Health committee was chaired by Lamar Alexander, who retired, so it cannot meet until the organizing resolution passes.

[brucejoel99]

So, Becerca (Health) is among the last to be confirmed, during a pandemic situation ?

How stupid are the Senators of the US ?

The Health committee was chaired by Lamar Alexander, who retired, so it cannot meet until the organizing resolution passes.

Already told Tender this, so he either didn't listen or didn't care about the answer.

[Tender Branson]

So, Becerca (Health) is among the last to be confirmed, during a pandemic situation ?

How stupid are the Senators of the US ?

The Health committee was chaired by Lamar Alexander, who retired, so it cannot meet until the organizing resolution passes.

Already told Tender this, so he either didn't listen or didn't care about the answer.

I think I didn't see your post ...

[Tender Branson]

I noticed that Biden nominated a lot of women as Deputy Ministers in the cabinet.

So, if male ministers are stepping down at some point later on in the term, these women deputies would probably take over and the cabinet would become even at 13-13, or even majority-women.

[brucejoel99]

I noticed that Biden nominated a lot of women as Deputy Ministers in the cabinet.

So, if male ministers are stepping down at some point later on in the term, these women deputies would probably take over and the cabinet would become even at 13-13, or even majority-women.

Depends on the office: Julie Su would probably be the favorite to take over if Marty Walsh were to step down, & Lisa Monaco might be the favorite to take over if Merrick Garland were to ever step down, but lesser-known deputies like Dr. Jewel Bronaugh (for Vilsack), Andrea Palm (for Becerra), Polly Trottenberg (for Buttigieg), & Cindy Martin (for Cardona) might not necessarily be the favorites to take over if any of their principals were to step down.

[emailking]

I don't think it obviates the point though. The Senators (all of them) are the ones that have to pass the organizing resolution, and it's stupid of them for not doing so. It can also be nucleared through which you can argue might be ok for a one off if it could save lives.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

I noticed that Biden nominated a lot of women as Deputy Ministers in the cabinet.

So, if male ministers are stepping down at some point later on in the term, these women deputies would probably take over and the cabinet would become even at 13-13, or even majority-women.

Depends on the office: Julie Su would probably be the favorite to take over if Marty Walsh were to step down, & Lisa Monaco might be the favorite to take over if Merrick Garland were to ever step down, but lesser-known deputies like Dr. Jewel Bronaugh (for Vilsack), Andrea Palm (for Becerra), Polly Trottenberg (for Buttigieg), & Cindy Martin (for Cardona) might not necessarily be the favorites to take over if any of their principals were to step down.

I think Vanita Gupta would likely be a candidate for AG after Garland, and/or in a future Democratic administration. I can definitely see her as Harris’s AG.

[AndyHogan14]

So, Becerca (Health) is among the last to be confirmed, during a pandemic situation ?

How stupid are the Senators of the US ?

The Health committee was chaired by Lamar Alexander, who retired, so it cannot meet until the organizing resolution passes.

But Cardona/Walsh have to go through that very same committee and they are on the schedule. Becerra should have come before both of those two.

[AndyHogan14]

https://twitter.com/SenateCloakroom/status/1356037161737449483?s=20

So I guess both Mayorkas and Buttigieg will end up being confirmed on Tuesday.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

https://twitter.com/SenateCloakroom/status/1356037161737449483?s=20

So I guess both Mayorkas and Buttigieg will end up being confirmed on Tuesday.

Huh. Any chance that means they vote on the OR today instead?

[brucejoel99]

https://twitter.com/SenateCloakroom/status/1356037161737449483?s=20

So I guess both Mayorkas and Buttigieg will end up being confirmed on Tuesday.

Huh. Any chance that means they vote on the OR today instead?

I don't think the Senate's coming into work today, the Mayorkas vote was delayed due to the inclement weather.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Biden is reportedly considering choosing former Disney CEO Bob Iger to be U.S. Ambassador to China. That would be a completely insane and stupid decision. Hopefully, those rumors/speculation aren't true.

It would basically confirm many people's fears that Biden is "Beijing Biden" and that he is going to be "soft" on China. It would also be terrible optics in general. Some parts of the 2020 live-action Mulan remake were filmed in Xinjiang - the same province in which the Uyghurs are being held in concentration camps.

Disney (like most major companies) are completely silent on the Chinese government's authoritarian abuses because they don't want to lose access to the growing Chinese consumer market & moviegoing audience - which makes them a ton of money.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Biden is reportedly considering choosing former Disney CEO Bob Iger to be U.S. Ambassador to China. That would be a completely insane and stupid decision. Hopefully, those rumors/speculation aren't true.

It would basically confirm many people's fears that Biden is "Beijing Biden" and that he is going to be "soft" on China. It would also be terrible optics in general. Some parts of 2020's live-action Mulan remake were filmed in Xinjiang - the same province in which the Uyghurs are being held in concretion camps.

Disney (like most major companies) are completely silent on the Chinese government's authoritarian abuses because they don't want to lose access to the growing Chinese consumer market & moviegoing audience - which makes them a ton of money.

I mean on top of all of that--all of which is true--I also just don't feel like random CEOs with no diplomatic or foreign policy experience whatsoever should be ambassadors to emerging superpowers.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

On a completely different note, while Bernie isn’t gonna sink any Biden nominees (Bernie’s generally been a team player, especially in recent years), I just realized that there might be a silver lining for the Tanden haters on Atlas.  Bernie isn’t gonna kill Tanden’s nomination,* but what he could do if he wanted to stick it to her somehow, he still has another (more practical) arrow in his quiver.  

Bernie could privately tell Biden’s team that the Budget Committee will be too busy working on the budget reconciliation/COVID-19 relief plan to hold a confirmation hearing for Tanden until he has a commitment from Biden to go to the mat to support using the nuclear option to overrule the parliamentarian if s/he says reconciliation rules don’t allow it to be used to pass a $15 minimum wage.

*Just like he was never gonna try to sink Raimondo or Buttigieg’s nomination

[Sir Mohamed]

On a completely different note, while Bernie isn’t gonna sink any Biden nominees (Bernie’s generally been a team player, especially in recent years), I just realized that there might be a silver lining for the Tanden haters on Atlas.  Bernie isn’t gonna kill Tanden’s nomination,* but what he could do if he wanted to stick it to her somehow, he still has another (more practical) arrow in his quiver.  

Bernie could privately tell Biden’s team that the Budget Committee will be too busy working on the budget reconciliation/COVID-19 relief plan to hold a confirmation hearing for Tanden until he has a commitment from Biden to go to the mat to support using the nuclear option to overrule the parliamentarian if s/he says reconciliation rules don’t allow it to be used to pass a $15 minimum wage.

*Just like he was never gonna try to sink Raimondo or Buttigieg’s nomination

Since it's questionable Biden's 1.9 trillion rescue package gets 60 votes anyway, wouldn't Sanders usig reconciliation to make sure it passes be helpful to Biden anyway? As for the minimum wage, Biden himself supports 15$ now. Just hope that takes effect rather sooner than later.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

On a completely different note, while Bernie isn’t gonna sink any Biden nominees (Bernie’s generally been a team player, especially in recent years), I just realized that there might be a silver lining for the Tanden haters on Atlas.  Bernie isn’t gonna kill Tanden’s nomination,* but what he could do if he wanted to stick it to her somehow, he still has another (more practical) arrow in his quiver.  

Bernie could privately tell Biden’s team that the Budget Committee will be too busy working on the budget reconciliation/COVID-19 relief plan to hold a confirmation hearing for Tanden until he has a commitment from Biden to go to the mat to support using the nuclear option to overrule the parliamentarian if s/he says reconciliation rules don’t allow it to be used to pass a $15 minimum wage.

*Just like he was never gonna try to sink Raimondo or Buttigieg’s nomination

Since it's questionable Biden's 1.9 trillion rescue package gets 60 votes anyway, wouldn't Sanders usig reconciliation to make sure it passes be helpful to Biden anyway? As for the minimum wage, Biden himself supports 15$ now. Just hope that takes effect rather sooner than later.

That depends how committed you think Biden is to overruling the parliamentarian with 50 votes in order to do things like raise the minimum wage to $15. 

It would A) increase pressure on Biden not to let deference to the Byrd Rule or the parliamentarian’s interpretations constrain him (there’s a difference between going to the mat for something and supporting it, but letting the chips fall where they may and Biden lobbying the Senate Democratic Caucus really hard to override the parliamentarian whenever necessary would be worth a lot) and;

B) simultaneously letting Bernie stick it to Tanden by delaying her confirmation hearing until after the COVID-19 relief reconciliation bill is passed (thus at least somewhat limiting her ability to influence the first major piece of legislation during Biden’s administration).

[Tender Branson]

ButtiPete was just confirmed by the Senate as Minister for Transportation !

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

ButtiPete was just confirmed by the Senate as Minister for Transportation !

What was the vote?

[riceowl]

ButtiPete was just confirmed by the Senate as Minister for Transportation !

What was the vote?

ongoing