Senate Republicans have decided to delay votes and take their time on the Senate floor as they prepare for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. This decision came after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, attempted to add more judicial confirmation votes to the Senate schedule.
According to sources close to the situation, the effort to slow down Senate proceedings was led by John Thune, the Senate Minority Whip from South Dakota. Thune, who is set to become the next Republican leader in the Senate, made it clear that Republicans would not simply allow Schumer to rush through multiple confirmations of judges nominated by President Biden without opposition. “If Sen. Schumer thought Senate Republicans would roll over and let him quickly confirm these judges, he was mistaken,” Thune stated.
In response to Schumer’s push to file cloture on several judicial nominees, Republican senators initiated procedural tactics to extend debate and delay the confirmation votes by requiring additional steps that can consume considerable time.
As Schumer works to confirm more Biden-appointed judges, he highlighted the importance of this goal in the current lame-duck session. He has indicated that Democrats are focused on confirming as many judges as possible before the majority shifts in the Senate.
Furthermore, during discussions on the Senate floor, Schumer spoke about the diversity of the judges confirmed under the Biden administration, claiming they include a wide range of backgrounds, including civil rights lawyers and legal aid attorneys, emphasizing their historical representation.
The coming weeks will be crucial as the Democrats strive to cement their judicial legacy before potentially losing their majority, a move that has Republicans on alert as they plan their strategy for the upcoming legislative battles.
