Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

[Mr. Morden]

Duke confirmed 85-14:

NAYs ---14
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Sanders (I-VT)
Udall (D-NM)
Warren (D-MA)

Not Voting - 1
Isakson (R-GA)

I'm sure it's just a coincidence that the prospective 2020 presidential candidates (e.g., Booker, Gillibrand, Harris, Sanders, Warren) keeping showing up as "no" votes on these lists. 

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

The senate is in recess this week and next week.

April 24th, 5:30 PM: FINAL VOTE on Perdue (Agriculture)

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

A rather interesting choice to head the selective service (no senate action required here): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/don-benton-draft-board_us_58ef89d7e4b0b9e98489e9a0

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

Todd Ricketts, the nominee for Deputy Commerce Secretary, has withdrawn his name from consideration as he has figured out that the Trump Administration is a failure not worth working for: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/19/todd-ricketts-trumps-deputy-commerce-secretary-pick-withdraws-from-consideration-237370

[The Other Castro]

Scott Brown nominated to be Ambassador to New Zealand.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Scott Brown nominated to be Ambassador to New Zealand.

Milk toast job.  He must have been a good boy for this.

[Santander]

Scott Brown nominated to be Ambassador to New Zealand.

Enjoy the vacation Sen. Brown!

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

FINAL VOTE on Perdue is now in progress.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

Perdue confirmed as Sec. of Agriculture: 87 Yes, 11 No, 1 Present

Now moving to CLOTURE on the nomination of Rod Rosenstein for Deputy Attorney General.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

Now moving to CLOTURE on the nomination of Rod Rosenstein for Deputy Attorney General.

motion succeeds 92 to 6.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

Rosenstein has been confirmed by a vote of 94-6. CLOTURE VOTE on Acosta at 11:30 AM Tomorrow.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

Acosta passed CLOTURE by a vote of 61-39:

NAYs ---39
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

Acosta has been confirmed by a vote of 60-38.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

5:30 PM Monday - CLOTURE VOTE on Jay Clayton, who has been appointed to the securities and exchange commission.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

Clayton passes CLOTURE 60-36. FINAL VOTE sometime tomorrow.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

Clayton has been confirmed by a vote of 61-37.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

The confirmation vote on Heather Wilson to be Secretary of the Air Force will be held at some point on Monday.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

After the confirmation or denial of the Wilson nomination, there will be a CLOTURE VOTE on Scott Gottlieb, who has been nominated to head the FDA.

[mencken]

Why do we still not have an Ambassador to China? Branstad was one of Trump's earlier appointments.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

Today, Heather Wilson was confirmed to be Secretary of the Airforce, 76-22:

NAYs ---22
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Hirono (D-HI)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Reed (D-RI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 2
Isakson (R-GA)
Sanders (I-VT)

Following this, Gottlieb passed CLOTURE 57-41:

NAYs ---41
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Manchin (D-WV)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 2
Isakson (R-GA)
Sanders (I-VT)

The Gottlieb nomination should receive a final vote tomorrow.

[KingSweden]

Why vote nay on Wilson? She's the least objectionable nominee outside of Mattis

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

Why vote nay on Wilson? She's the least objectionable nominee outside of Mattis

To show opposition to Trump.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

Gottlieb has been confirmed by a vote of 57-42.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

Today, we finally got a Trade Representative! Robert Lighthizer passed a CLOTURE motion by 81-15, and was later confirmed by a vote of 82-14.

CLOTURE:

NAYs ---15
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Markey (D-MA)
McCain (R-AZ) (!)
Merkley (D-OR)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Sasse (R-NE) (!)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Udall (D-NM)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)

Not Voting - 4
Capito (R-WV)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Sullivan (R-AK)

FINAL VOTE:

NAYs ---14
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Gardner (R-CO) (!)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Markey (D-MA)
McCain (R-AZ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Sasse (R-NE)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)

Not Voting - 4
Capito (R-WV)
Isakson (R-GA)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Sullivan (R-AK)

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

5:30 PM Monday: CLOTURE vote on Jeffrey Rosen, who has been nominated to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation.