When are we going to have the confirmation hearings?

[12th Doctor]

Well?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Presumably after Bush nominates someone.

[12th Doctor]

Presumably after Bush nominates someone.

You know what I mean.

[Emsworth]

Well?

The Constitution requires that the Budget must be approved before the Senate can "move on to any other matter." Thus, I feel compelled (unfortunately) to delay the hearings until the Budget is approved.

[12th Doctor]

Well?

The Constitution requires that the Budget must be approved before the Senate can "move on to any other matter." Thus, I feel compelled (unfortunately) to delay the hearings until the Budget is approved.

No one anticipated this problem during the drafting of the Constitution?  Unbelievable.

[Colin]

Well?

The Constitution requires that the Budget must be approved before the Senate can "move on to any other matter." Thus, I feel compelled (unfortunately) to delay the hearings until the Budget is approved.

No one anticipated this problem during the drafting of the Constitution?  Unbelievable.

I believe I remember stating something like this when we were debating the budget amendment in the Senate, I am not certain since I have not been able to look at that thread. Since the Constitution copies that amendment almost word for word I would ask Sam if you have any problems with it.

[12th Doctor]

Well?

The Constitution requires that the Budget must be approved before the Senate can "move on to any other matter." Thus, I feel compelled (unfortunately) to delay the hearings until the Budget is approved.

No one anticipated this problem during the drafting of the Constitution?  Unbelievable.

I believe I remember stating something like this when we were debating the budget amendment in the Senate, I am not certain since I have not been able to look at that thread. Since the Constitution copies that amendment almost word for word I would ask Sam if you have any problems with it.

For all I know, I probably signed off on the damn thing.

[Sam Spade]

Well?

The Constitution requires that the Budget must be approved before the Senate can "move on to any other matter." Thus, I feel compelled (unfortunately) to delay the hearings until the Budget is approved.

No one anticipated this problem during the drafting of the Constitution?  Unbelievable.

I believe I remember stating something like this when we were debating the budget amendment in the Senate, I am not certain since I have not been able to look at that thread. Since the Constitution copies that amendment almost word for word I would ask Sam if you have any problems with it.

That omission is clearly my fault.  I don't know whether you mentioned it during the debate of the amendment, Colin, but if you did, then I apologize.  I thought that I had covered every matter in the amendment, but I guess I made a mistake.

Right now Section 8, Clause 6 (the relevant clause) reads:

"The Senate must approve each and every Budget before moving on to any other matter."

In order to clear up the problem, I would urge the clause to read:

"The Senate must approve each and every Budget before moving on to any other matter, except for Presidential nominations, PPT elections. or other similarly urgent matters at the beginning of a session of the Senate."

My suggestion to Emsworth is to bring up the nominations, and let's have a vote on them (damn the Constitution).   

My rationale for this is that I doubt that anyone would object to us holding hearings in the same way that no one is presentlyobjecting to us holding a PPT election vote (which is technically illegal under the way the clause means right now).

As for right now, I will introduce a relevant amendment to the Consitution on the Legislation Introduction thread.

[Emsworth]

My suggestion to Emsworth is to bring up the nominations, and let's have a vote on them.

I had considered interpreting the clause so that "matter" refers to legislation, but I felt that there might be an objection.

If no Senator objects, I will open confirmation hearings in a little while.

[Peter]

Well?

The Constitution requires that the Budget must be approved before the Senate can "move on to any other matter." Thus, I feel compelled (unfortunately) to delay the hearings until the Budget is approved.

No one anticipated this problem during the drafting of the Constitution?  Unbelievable.

Colin and I simply trusted that the Senate had gotten it right since they had had full deliberations on the matter.

[Emsworth]

There appears to be no objection. Therefore, I am prepared to make my decision:

Article I, Section 8, Clause 6's requirement that "The Senate must approve each and every Budget before moving on to any other matter" applies only to legislation. The original intent of those who framed the clause appears to be that "matter" refers to bills, not to the swearing-in of Senators, presidential nominations, the election of the President pro tempore, or procedural votes.

Confirmation hearings will open shortly.