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ThinkProgress


By  CAP Action War Room

GOP Blockade of Nominees Collapses

Today was supposed to be D-Day when it came to the so-called nuclear option in the Senate — a relatively minor change in the Senate rules to stop a minority of senators from using the filibuster as a means of nullifying democratically created government agencies and functions that they object to purely for ideological reasons.

After a three and a half hour meeting last night and ongoing negotiations through this morning, senators announced a deal to avert changing the Senate rules. Nevertheless, the deal represents a huge victory for Democrats and an almost unconditional surrender on the part of Senate Republicans.

Here’s the main elements of the deal:

  • The president’s nominees to head the Department of Labor, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Export-Import Bank, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will be confirmed without delay.
  • Two of the president’s current nominees to the National Labor Relations Board will be withdrawn; however, Republicans agree in advance to confirm any two nominees of the president’s choosing before the Senate recesses in August.
  • Democrats retain the right to revisit changing the filibuster rules on executive branch nominees at any time should Republicans once again begin a blockade.

Interestingly, Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) had offered a deal last night that would have also confirmed the current group of seven nominees, but would’ve required Democrats to promise to never again threaten to change the rules. Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) wisely rejected this offer in favor of the offer outlined above made by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and a group of breakaway Republicans.

Real progress has already been made as a result of this deal. CFPB nominee Richard Cordray had been prevented from receiving an up-or-down vote by Senate Republicans for 730 days. Following today’s deal, a cloture motion on his nomination passed 71-29 and a final confirmation vote is expected later today.

Hopefully this new spirit of cooperation from Senate Republicans will also extend to other areas. The president deserves up-or-down votes on his judicial nominations, which have also faced unprecedented levels of obstruction and delay from some Senate Republicans. In particular, we look forward to timely votes on the president’s three nominations to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

BOTTOM LINE: Today’s deal does not fix all of the problems with the Senate, but it represents a huge victory for consumers, workers, and anyone who cares about clean air and water. In addition, the deal underscores that a unified Democrat caucus can stand up to unprecedented Republican obstructionism and get results.

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the Senate considers Executive Calendar ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House ?


WethePeople

The Senate will convene at 9:30am on Wednesday, July 17, 2013.

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
  • Following the remarks of the two Leaders, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #178, the nomination of Fred P. Hochberg, of NY, to be President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.  The time until 10:00am will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. At 10:00am, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Hochberg nomination. If cloture is invoked on the nomination, there will be up to 8 hours of post-cloture debate on the nomination.
  • Cloture was also filed on the following items:
  • If cloture is invoked on the Hochberg nomination, following disposition of the Hochberg nomination, there would immediately be a cloture vote on the Perez nomination.  If cloture is invoked on the Perez nomination, there would be up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate on the nomination.  Following disposition of the Perez nomination, there would be a cloture vote on the McCarthy nomination. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 8 hours of post-cloture debate on the McCarthy nomination. If cloture is not invoked on a nomination, the Senate would proceed to vote on cloture on the next nomination.

10:01am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #178, the nomination of Fred P. Hochberg, of New York, to be President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States;

Invoked: 82-18

There will now to be up to 8 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #178, the nomination of Fred P. Hochberg, of New York, to be President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Upon disposition of the nomination we will proceed immediately to a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Perez nomination. We hope to yield back some of that time and have those votes early this afternoon. Senators will be notified when any votes are schedule.

We expect to have a series of 2 roll call votes as early as 3:30pm. Those votes would be on the following items:

–          Confirmation of Executive Calendar #178, the nomination of Fred P. Hochberg, of New York, to be President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States; and

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #99, the nomination of Thomas Edward Perez, of Maryland, to be Secretary of Labor.

3:36pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Confirmation of Executive Calendar #178, the nomination of Fred P. Hochberg, of New York, to be President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States;

Confirmed: 82-17

4:09pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #99, the nomination of Thomas Edward Perez, of Maryland, to be Secretary of Labor;

Invoked: 60-40

There will be no further roll call votes today.

Senator Murray asked unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar #33, H.Con.Res.25; the amendment at the desk, which is the text of S.Con.Res.8, the budget resolution passed by the Senate, be inserted in lieu thereof; and that H.Con.Res.25, as amended, be agreed to. Further, that the Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses; and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate; and that following the authorization, two motions to instruct conferees be in order from each side:

– Motion to instruct relative to the debt limit; and

– Motion to instruct relative to taxes/revenue;

That there be two hours of debate equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees, prior to votes in relation to the motions; further, that no amendments be in order to either of the motions prior to the votes; all of the above occurring with no intervening action or debate.

Senator Lee asked that the request be modified so that it not be in order for the Senate to consider a conference report that includes reconciliation instructions to raise the debt limit. Senator Murray objected to Senator Lee’s modification because she offered the Senator to vote on motions to instruct conferees on the debt limit. Finally, Senator Lee objected to Senator Murray’s original request.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #178, the nomination of Fred P. Hochberg, of NY, to be President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States; Invoked: 82-18

2)      Confirmation of Executive Calendar #178, the nomination of Fred P. Hochberg, of NY, to be President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States Confirmed: 82-17

3)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #99, the nomination of Thomas Edward Perez, of MD, to be Secretary of Labor; Invoked: 60-40

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Judiciary committee and adopted S.Res.183, commemorating the relaunching of 172-year-old Charles W. Morgan by Mystic Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1315, Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act. (Cornyn)

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1316, Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act. (Cornyn)

Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.1911, Smarter Solutions for Students Act.

No additional EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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July 2013
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Watch Live House Floor Proceedings

Last Floor Action:
4:59:09 P.M. -H.R. 2668
WORDS TAKEN
DOWN – During the course of debate, exception was taken to certain words used
and a demand was made to have words taken down. Mr. Price (GA) asked unanimous
consent to withdraw the words. Without objection the words were withdrawn. The
House resumed with debate on H.R. 2668.

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The Canopy Project


I just wanted to let you know that we are $4,500 dollars away from our goal! As Earth Day Network’s tree planting program coordinator I routinely hear stories of thanks and gratitude from the men, women, and children who are impacted by our plantings. Recently, I was told by Henry Kunduba, a farmer from Uganda, that the trees EDN helped him plant has already improved his crop yields – “I’m happy to have planted Calliandra trees as a fence on my land. I also use them to feed my goats. I need more Calliandra so that I can plant on all my land.”  Through your support, we can continue to help people like Henry improve their livelihoods and provide for their families.

— John

——

            Help us fight poverty and plant trees in Haiti and Senegal!

We have some good news! An anonymous donor has pledged $15,000 to help us plant trees IF we can match that gift with another $15,000! Please help us reach that goal. Here’s what your donation will do right now:

In Haiti: In the aftermath of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck in 2010, Haiti has worked hard to rebuild and has made significant strides in agriculture, education and economic growth, but there’s much more work to be done. Erosion and a dependence on wood for cooking and heating have devastated the country’s tree canopy. Less than 2% of Haiti’s original forests remain, and most of its people are desperately poor.

Earth Day Network works with local partners to integrate tree planting with farming and community training. Fruit trees and fast-growing plants provide food and biofuel, harvested through sustainable agroforestry practices. Each dollar donated helps Haiti feed its people.

In Senegal: Since 1990, Senegal has lost over 675,000 hectares of pristine primary forest, the equivalent of cutting down a forest the size of Delaware. Each year more and more trees are cut to fuel timber and biofuel industries. As a result, Senegal’s soil has been destabilized and its thousands of species of flora and fauna are being threatened.

By planting trees, The Canopy Project helps restore Senegal’s tree canopy, providing habitats for threatened animals, and fruits used to produce sustainable electricity to run homes, produce goods, and improve family livelihoods.

But we need your help now! The tree planting season in Senegal must coincide with the short rainy season of July through September. Each dollar donated helps preserve biodiversity and adds trees in the most needy villages and farms of Senegal.

Time is short and there is much work to be done. Please help us reach our goal today!

— The Earth Day Network Team

Support Tom Perez


National Women's Law Center
 Tomorrow, the Senate has a chance to do something that could help every single woman in the United States. But we have to make sure they know we care.
This is our last chance. Tell your Senators to support the nomination of Tom Perez for Secretary of Labor.
Throughout his career, including most recently as head of the Civil Rights Division in the Department of Justice, Tom Perez has shown that he is committed to enforcing the laws upon which women, and all workers, rely. He’s combined this commitment with extraordinary skill and competence, both in the federal government and when he served as Secretary of Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
The U.S. Department of Labor enforces laws enabling workers to take job-protected family and medical leave, wage and hour protections that shield workers from exploitation and abuse, and rules requiring federal contractors to advance equal opportunity in their workforces, including equal pay. This critical Department also houses the Women’s Bureau, whose mission is to improve pay and working conditions for women. The next Secretary of Labor will have the opportunity to continue the important progress toward ensuring fairer workplaces for women and for all workers.
Tom Perez is committed to the needs of women and their families. Tell your Senators to support the nomination of Tom Perez for Secretary of Labor.
Thank you for everything you do to advance the rights of women and their families.
Sincerely,
Marcia Greenberger  Marcia Greenberger Co-President National Women’s Law Center