TPMDC Nominees
Filibuster Reform
Senators Near Consensus On Filibuster Reform Alternative
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)
A quick update on the substance, as opposed to the process, of filibuster reform in the Senate.
Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) will pick up where he left off in pursuit of his filibuster reform proposals when the Senate reconvenes this week. But parallel negotiations between Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) on a more modest rules reform framework are ongoing. And there's emerging consensus on three flanks.
New to that slate, according to a Senate aide, is a proposal to that would forbid "individual senators [from forcing] the reading of certain pieces of legislation, if they've been posted for certain periods of time." There's still no clarity on what categories of legislation would be exempted from this, or how long they'd have to be public.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Chuck Schumer, Filibuster, Filibuster Reform, Lamar Alexander, Nominees, Secret Holds
Filibuster Reform
BREAKING: Senate Filibuster Reform Package
Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Harry Reid (D-NV)
Here are the specific filibuster reforms that Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), will be pushing beginning this afternoon, obtained by TPM. Spoiler: they include at least one little-discussed item meant to appeal to the minority.
As promised, Udall proposes ending secret holds and the right of the minority to filibuster the start of debate, and demanding the "talking" filibuster.
But, according to documents provided by Udall's office in advance of his floor speech, it also includes a proposal that guarantees both parties the right to amend legislation -- limiting the majority leader's power to "fill the amendment tree" and block extended debate.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Filibuster, Filibuster Reform, Judicial nominees, Nominees, Tom Udall
Barack Obama
Silver Lining: Why Dems' Big Loss Could Pave The Way For Obama Nominees
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and President Barack Obama
Dems have little reason to be happy about this month's election results. Gone for at least two years -- and probably more -- are their hopes of passing anything like the historic legislation they enacted during this Congress. Additionally starting next year they will have to contend with ascendant adversaries in the House, bent on unraveling those accomplishments and embarrassing President Obama with aggressive use of subpoena power.
But Democrats still control the Senate. So while the House passes legislation the Senate has no interest in considering, Majority Leader Harry Reid will have much more time, if he chooses, to devote to confirming a large backlog of Obama's judicial and executive branch nominees -- particularly numerous non-controversial picks, who will have to be renominated next year.
That's certainly what advocates would like to see.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Filibuster, Harry Reid, Judicial nominees, Nominees
Supreme Court vacancy
Obama Nears Decision On Supreme Court Nominee
President Barack Obama reflects during a meeting in the Oval Office
President Obama is nearing the final stages of review for selecting a Supreme Court nominee, summoning candidates for in-person meetings, pulling more documentation and focusing on a handful of prospects for the vacancy. Congressional and White House sources told me they think it's possible there will be a nominee by the end of this week, but certainly in the coming two weeks.
For weeks the White House stressed the process was "very early" in, but aides said today that "it's moved along quite a bit in the last week." Obama's short-ish list of nine candidates (detailed here) hasn't expanded, but "he's not at a place where he's crossed people off the list," an administration official told me today.
"We're well into this. We're getting there," the official said.
Topics: Barack Obama, Judicial nominees, Nominees, Senate Judiciary Committee, Supreme Court, Supreme Court vacancy, White House
Nominees
Dawn Johnsen Withdrawing Nomination After Long Battle
Nominee for Office of Legal Counsel Dawn Johnsen
Dawn Johnsen today has withdrawn her nomination to lead the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel, following a more than year-long confirmation fight with Senate Republicans.
The White House said President Obama accepted Johnsen's withdrawal request today, adding a statement lauding her accomplishments as a "highly-respected constitutional scholar."
Johnsen, who was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee last month (for a second time), made the announcement amid a news cycle when Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced he will retire. Senate Republicans challenged her because she took a strong position opposing torture practices during the Bush administration.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Dawn Johnsen, Nominees, Obstructionism
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