Biden wants to tackle gun violence. But his firearms nominee is stuck in limbo.

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

As President Joe Biden tries to go on the offensive against rising gun crime, his pick to oversee the nation’s firearm regulations is stuck in limbo in the Senate.

A handful of moderate Senate Democrats, most from red states, remain undecided on Biden’s nomination of David Chipman to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. With the GOP galvanized to turn Chipman’s bid into a litmus test for Democrats’ commitment to the Second Amendment, citing the nominee's past work for a prominent gun control group, that leaves Biden with a potential political problem that could hobble his messaging on both guns and crime.

At least three Democratic caucus members are publicly mum on whether they’d support Chipman. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said Monday that he hadn’t made up his mind, while Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he was still “working on it. “

“I’ve spoken to him a few times, had a Zoom call with him, trying to get all the facts and figures on this stuff, his credentials,” Manchin said. He added that Chipman’s experience “seemed to be exemplary" but that he's still considering "everything else that people have concerns about.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/13/biden-gun-regulation-nominee-499370

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. I bet Chipman is in the centre of public opinion on guns

Survey after survey shows majority public support for various gun control measures. Even a majority of Republican voters want some new laws passed. But the money of the gun manufacturers, via the NRA lobbyists, scares "moderates" from actually taking a moderate stance. Maybe these hesitant Democrats need reminding what public opinion actually is?

[The Mouth]

2. Good point

It seems to be much more in the center than either gun haters or gun enthusiasts would like. The extremes on neither side are trustworthy to the average person in the middle it appears.

[Hekate]

3. Well, Sir, TFG used to bypass the process and appoint people anyway...

I am sorry, but if that’s how the GOP wants to play it, maybe that’s how it has to be for now.

[paleotn]

4. Recess appointment.

Done. Problem fixed.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. The Senate stopped having technical "recesses" awhile ago

and mostly after Shrub recess-appointed Bolton to the U.N. Ambassador position. Now the Senate always does "Pro-forma" sessions year-round (except after a federal election when they are adjourning to officially conclude a 2-year Congressional session), where someone volunteers to gavel-in the Senate with "Morning business" that follows the usual Chaplain's opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance, and then they "suggest the absence of a quorum" (assuming no one wants to speak during the Morning Business), and then they have "recess subject to the call of the chair" for no more than 3 days (a time frame that is actually spelled out in the Constitution as the limit for how long they can "be away" ).

Article I

(snip)

Section 5.

Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.

Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either House on any question shall, at the desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.

Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articlei

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Obama had called out that practice (because no one was ever around during those 3 days) and attempted to recess appoint several positions including the CFPB head (Richard Cordray at the time) and some National Labor Relations Board members. He was sued, and it went all the way up to the SCOTUS who unanimously ruled that yes, the Senate "can make its own rules" and thus if they say they are still "in session" (subject to the call of the chair), then they are still "in session", and any recess appointments during those Pro-forma sessions are unconstitutional, and thus moot.