Tuesday, February 11, 2020

5:40 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke in favor of the nomination of Josh Kindred to be district judge in the state of Alaska.

5:10 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change.

4:25 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the wage scale.

4:21 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about the 2020 Presidential election.

4:20 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Halpern nomination, 75-18.

Senators voting in favor: 52 Republicans, 22 Democrats, 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 18 Democrats: Baldwin, Blumenthal, Booker, Cantwell, Casey, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Gillibrand, Harris, Heinrich, Hirono, Markey, Merkley, Murray, Rosen, Schatz, Smith and Wyden.

Senators not voting: 4 Democrats: Bennet, Klobuchar, Udall and Warren; 2 Republicans: Graham and Tillis; 1 Independent: Sanders.

3:41 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Phillip Halpern to be a district judge for the Southern District of New York.

3:40 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Kness nomination, 82-12.

Senators voting against: 12 Democrats: Booker, Brown, Cantwell, Gillibrand, Harris, Hirono, Markey, Murray, Schumer, Stabenow, Van Hollen & Wyden.

Senators not voting: 4 Democrats: Bennet, Klobuchar, Udall and Warren; 1 Republican: Graham; 1 Independent: Sanders.

3:22 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of John Kness to be a district judge for northern Illinois.

3:22 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Schlep nomination, 72-22.

Senators voting in favor: 52 Republicans, 19 Democrats: Carper, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Durbin, Feinstein, Hassan, Jones, Kaine, Leahy, Manchin, Murphy, Peters, Reed, Rosen, Shaheen, Sinema, Tester, Warner and Whitehouse; 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 2x Democrats.

Senators not voting: 4 Democrats: Bennet, Klobuchar, Udall and Warren; 1 Republican: Graham; 1 Independent: Sanders.

2:59 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Matthew Schelp to be a judge for Eastern District of Missouri.

2:58 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the nomination of Joshua Kindred to be US District judge for Alaska, 52-41.

Senators voting in favor: 52 Republicans, 1 Democrat: Warner.

Senators not voting: 4 Democrats: Bennet, Klobuchar, Udall and Warren; 2 Republicans: Graham and Tillis; 1 Independent: Sanders.

2:43 p.m. The Senate is voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #563 Joshua M. Kindred to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Alaska.

2:42 p.m. The Senate confirmed Andrew Lynn Brasher to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit on a party line vote of 52-43.

Senators not voting: 3 Democrats: Bennet, Klobuchar and Warren; 1 Republican: Graham; 1 Independent: Sanders.

2:15 p.m. The Senate is voting on confirmation of Executive Calendar #562 Andrew Lynn Brasher to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.

12:33 p.m. Senator Shelby spoke in support of the Brasher nomination.

12:24 p.m. Senator Blumenthal asked unanimous consent that the Senate pass S.127. Senator Blackburn objected.

12:15 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about election security and asked unanimous consent that the Senate agree to S.2238, the SAFE Act. Senator Blackburn objected.

12:03 p.m. Senator Warner spoke on election security and asked unanimous consent that the Senate vote on S. 2242, The Fire Act . Senator Blackburn objected.

12:01 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke on election security.

11:01 a.m. Senator Cotton paid tribute to Billie Sue Hoggard from Jonesboro, Arkansas, who passed away on Sunday.

10:32 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about the economy.

10:22 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about election security and judicial nominations.

10:06 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the budget.

10:03 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about prescription drug prices.

  • The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. and will resume
    post-cloture consideration of the nomination of Andrew Brasher to be a judge for the Eleventh Circuit.
  • The Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly caucus luncheons.
  • At 2:15 p.m., five roll call votes will occur:
  • Confirmation of the nomination of Andrew Brasher to be a judge for the Eleventh Circuit.
    • Cloture on the nomination of Joshua Kindred to be a judge for the District of Alaska.
    • Cloture on the nomination of Matthew Schelp to be a judge for Eastern District of Missouri.
    • Cloture on the nomination of John Kness to be a judge for the Northern District of Illinois.
    • Cloture on the nomination of Philip Halpern to be a judge for the Southern District of New York.
  • If cloture is invoked on the Kindred, Schelp, Kness, and Halpern nominations, the confirmation votes will occur on Wednesday, at a time to be determined.