Senate Ending Gridlock Over Nominations, Sets Votes for Budget and Defense
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iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have reached an agreement to end the session that began Wednesday afternoon, eliminating the need for a third overnight session Friday night and setting a date for two key votes – the budget deal and the defense authorization.
“We’re doing our utmost to finish our business here a week from today so we can go home for Christmas,” Reid, D-Nev., said, announcing an end to the marathon session Friday morning.
Senators were debating presidential nominees and Republicans were using their full allotted time to protest new Senate rules that make it easier for the party in power to approve nominations.
The Senate will hold two votes on nominations Friday and resume votes on more nominations, including that of Jeh Johnson to be Secretary of Homeland Security, on Monday.
And most importantly, the Senate will vote on the budget deal on Tuesday and the National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday. Reid also hopes the Senate can vote on the confirmation of Janet Yellen to be the next Federal Reserve Chair by the end of the week.
The Senate will hold a rare Sunday session this weekend, but there will be no votes.
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