Tuesday, November 17, 2020

7:24 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

7:20 p.m. Senator Portman wrapped up for the evening. Passed by UC: HR 1668, HR 5901, S. 2216, S Res 776; passed by voice vote: S Res 775.

7:06 p.m. Senator Portman spoke on the potential vaccines for Covid-19.

7:02 p.m. Senator Lee paid tribute to Colleen Healy upon her retirement from the Joint Economic Committee.

7:00 p.m. The Crouse nomination was confirmed, 50-43.

Senators voting in favor: 49 Republicans, 1 Democrat: Manchin.

Senators voting against: 41 Democrats, 2 Independents: King and Sanders.

Senators not voting: 4 Republicans: Alexander, Graham, Grassley, Rick Scott; 3 Democrats: Carper, Feinstein and Harris.

6:15 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #862 Toby Crouse to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Kansas.

6:03 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke supporting Senator Loeffler’s modernizing American health care legislation.

5:45 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke about the ethnic Arminian war.

5:34 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke on the right to practice freedom of religion.

5:17 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about climate change and rising sea levels.

4:56 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the pandemic.

4:36 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the coronavirus.

4:21 p.m. Senator Lee asked u.c. to proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4902, a bill to designate the U.S. Courthouse located at 351 Southwest Temple in Utah as the Orrin G. Hatch Courthouse. Senator Romney also spoke supporting the bill. S. 4902 was passed by unanimous consent.

4:21 p.m. By a tally of 51-44 the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Toby Crouse to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Kansas.

3:37 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Cal. #862, Toby Crouse to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Kansas.

3:37 p.m. ML McConnell has entered a motion to reconsider the cloture vote on Executive Calendar #760 Judy Shelton to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the unexpired term of fourteen years from February 1, 2010.

3:36 p.m. By a tally of 47-50 the Senate did not invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #760 Judy Shelton to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the unexpired term of fourteen years from February 1, 2010.

Senators Collins and Romney joined all Democrats and Independents voting against; McConnell changed vote to no in order to bring this nomination back again.

Not voting: Senators Alexander, Grassley, and Scott of Florida.

2:58 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #760 Judy Shelton to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the unexpired term of fourteen years from February 1, 2010.

2:57 p.m. The Senate confirmed Benjamin Joel Beaton to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Kentucky by a tally of 52-44.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from the recess and began a roll call vote on confirmation of the Beaton nomination.

12:16 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m. to accommodate the weekly party lunches.

12:16 p.m. By a vote of 52 to 44, the Senate invoked cloture on the Beaton nomination. Democrats in favor of cloture: Manchin and Sinema. NOT VOTING: Alexander, Grassley, Harris, Scott of Florida.

11:48 a.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Kristi Johnson to be a District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi by a tally of 53-43.

Senator Grassley was among those not voting, his first missed vote since the summer of 1993. Also not voting: Alexander, Harris, Scott of Florida.

Democrats Jones, Manchin and Sinema joined with the majority in favor of confirmation.

11:00 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Kristi Johnson to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.

10:35 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about corona virus vaccines.

10:20 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke against the nomination of Judy Shelton to the Federal Reserve Board.

10:04 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about corona virus relief. He spoke about appropriations. He spoke about the defense authorization bill. He spoke about judicial nominations.

***

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. and will resume post-cloture consideration of the nomination of Kristi Haskins Johnson to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.

  • At 11 a.m., the Senate will proceed to two roll call votes:
  • Confirmation of the Johnson nomination;
    • Cloture on the nomination of Benjamin Joel Beaton to
      the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
  • Following the Beaton cloture vote, the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly caucus luncheons.
  • At 2:15 p.m., if cloture has been invoked, the Senate will proceed to two roll call votes:
  • Confirmation of the Beaton nomination;
    • Cloture on the nomination of Judy Shelton to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
  • If cloture is invoked on the Shelton nomination, a confirmation vote is expected later today.