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

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Senate Hearing for Austin has been scheduled for Jan. 19th: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/21-01-19-nomination

But he's also expected to need a House hearing, as he'll require a waiver to be signed into law before he can be confirmed since he hasn't been out of the military long enough.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Today's Schedule:

10 AM ET: Yellen Hearing
10 AM ET: Haines OPEN Hearing
10 AM ET: Mayorkas Hearing
2 PM: Blinken Hearing
3 PM: Austin Hearing
Upon Completion of the Haines OPEN Hearing: Haines CLOSED Hearing [Not Webcast]

I'll be flipping between the various hearings throughout the day and will have commentary throughout

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

GOP doesn't seem too eager to support Mayorkas, but isn't explicitly saying No either.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Yellen says that the national debt/deficit isn't a concern right now because of low interest rates, but also says that interest rates will increase at some point and therefore the debt/deficit has to be addressed eventually.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Tim Scott is giving a speech in the Yellen hearing about the evils of a $15 minimum wage. Very amusing.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Morning hearings have concluded

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Yeah I agree. Was a bit worried about him given the largely partisan vote in 2013 for him but this seems to be smoother.

Also lol at Romney asking about Iran

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Cotton says he will oppose the Waiver required for Austin, not because of anything to do with Austin himself, but on the principle of the waiver itself. Also says he regrets voting for the Mattis Waiver.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Rounds is a YES on the Waiver

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Joe Manchin (Closeted R - WV) is a YES on the Waiver

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Why does Duckworth have to be a pain on the waiver? This is annoying.

Reminder that because the Waiver is legislation, it will need 60 votes. (then there is a separate vote on the nomination that is simple majority)

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Today's hearings have concluded. More hearings Thursday.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

https://twitter.com/SenateCloakroom/status/1352034069840859140

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Not Voting - 6
Brown (D-OH)
Crapo (R-ID)
Scott (R-SC)
Tillis (R-NC)
Toomey (R-PA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

10 AM Today: Buttigieg Hearing

On the House side, anticipated members of the House Armed Services Committee (most committee members have not been ratified by the House yet) will hold a closed-door briefing with Austin. In the afternoon, the House is expected to vote on and pass H.R. 335, Authorizing the Waiver for Austin. It will then proceed to the Senate, where it must pass before the vote on the nomination itself can take place.

--

10 AM Friday: Finance Committee Vote on the Yellen Nomination

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Austin has been approved by the Armed Services Committee and is ready for floor action once the waiver passes.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

So are we expecting the House to vote on the waiver at around 8pm ET?

Hoyer's daily forecast says 3-4 pm. Not sure where you're getting 8.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

As I am watching the House vote, it has me wondering is there is a plan to allow voting by proxy in the Senate now that Democrats are in control? Anyone heard anything on the topic?

There's been no talk of it so far. A rules change like that requires a 2/3 vote (unless you go nuclear which Manchin and Rs won't do on principle) anyways, and although some GOPers have started using proxy voting now, the official party position remains opposition to it.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

https://twitter.com/SenateCloakroom/status/1352366437642416141?s=20

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

NAYS (Austin Waiver):
Cotton
Blumenthal
Rubio
Scott (FL)
Duckworth
Young
Marshall
Collins
Van Hollen
Warren
Markey
Hawley
Tester
Sasse
Cortez Masto
Rosen
Booker
Gillibrand
Wyden
Merkley
Toomey
Blackburn
Lee
Murray
Baldwin
Barrasso
Lummus

Not Voting - 4
Burr (R-NC)
Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
Moran (R-KS)
Tillis (R-NC)

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

https://twitter.com/SenateCloakroom/status/1352396045267955716

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I've finished watching the Buttigieg Hearing, and am delighted at how smooth it went. Proud of the GOP for not trying to obstruct this, and I look forward to this great man taking his office.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Lloyd Austin has been confirmed as the Defense Secretary by the Senate. Vote was 93-2.

The 2 no votes were from Mike Lee and Josh Hawley. 5 senators did not vote.

Not Voting - 5
Burr (R-NC)
Capito (R-WV)
Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
Moran (R-KS)
Tillis (R-NC)

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Well, no, no one is handing the us military to china. Seriously ROFL.

As for cutting military spending, well it would actually be a good thing if we cut some military spending to reduce our deficit.  We spend way too much on the military. But when you have hawks like Adam Smith (D-WA) running democratic defense spending, probably we'll actually keep raising the military budget. Go figure.