McConnell Faces First Test In Reid ‘Nuclear Option’ Push

[DonViejo]

BRIAN BEUTLER MAY 23, 2013, 11:27 AM

Something unexpected and newsworthy happened on the Senate floor Thursday morning during an otherwise commonplace argument between Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell over confirmations and the “nuclear option.”

It had nothing to do with truly imperiled nominees like Rich Cordray over at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or Tom Perez at the Department of Labor. But it nonetheless reveals a great deal about power dynamics between the leaders as the Senate builds toward a showdown over key confirmations — and perhaps another effort to change the Senate’s filibuster rules.

At issue Thursday was Sri Srinivasan, whom President Obama nominated to serve on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Srinivasan has been a shoo-in for weeks. But Reid and McConnell have disagreed about precisely when he should be officially confirmed. Reid wanted the vote this week. McConnell wanted to wait three business days — not a huge delay in most circumstances, but with the impending Memorial Day break it would’ve kicked the confirmation into early June.

So this week, Reid used the Senate rules to provoke a confrontation: Technically he filed cloture on Srinivasan’s nomination, guaranteeing him at least a test vote this week. More meaningfully, he forced McConnell to choose between sustaining a filibuster against Srinivasan through early June (a move that would have helped Reid build his case for changing the rules this summer) and agreeing to a confirmation vote now (effectively caving).

Full article
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/05/mcconnell-faces-first-test-in-reid-nuclear-option-push.php

[Pab Sungenis]

1. Go nuclear

and approve them all -- every single Obama appointee -- in one massive vote. Fill every vacant seat on every court and every open office in the Executive Branch immediately.