Senate Democrats Prepare For Their 2017 Theatrical Debut As Confirmation Hearings Loom
by Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge.com
Jan 9, 2017
Starting Tuesday Americans will be subjected to what will feel like endless hours of torture as Senate Democrats get their opportunity to question Trump cabinet appointees. The hearings will undoubtedly focus on the wealth accumulation of many of his nominees as key Democrats have already started to apply pressure for them to turnover historical tax filings.
That said, given that Republicans control a 52-48 majority in the Senate and that Democrats eliminated the 60-vote threshold in 2013, the Democrat theatrical displays this week will ultimately amount to nothing more than an attempt to discredit and shame Trump’s appointees. As John Cornyn of Texas pointed out, “[Democrats] can delay the process, they can’t stop it.”
Of course, their lack of leverage (due to their own rule changes which have now come back to haunt them in just 3 short years) has Senate Democrats “triggered” over Republican efforts to fast track the nomination approval process. As The Hill notes, Chuck Schumer seems particularly upset about the amount of work he’ll have to do this week saying “It shouldn’t be the case that 6 hearings occur all on the same day.”
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