Thread by @CraigCaplan

Senate NOW voting to proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to be Associate Justice of US Supreme Court. Simple majority is needed. Business on Executive Calendar,which consists of nominations and treaties, is considered in executive session.

https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1319689887600332803

Many Senators are voting from their floor desks on this vote to begin debate on Barrett nomination.

Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) both voted No against the Senate entering executive session to consider the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to be an Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court.

51-46: Senate voted to enter into executive session to begin debate on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to be an Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court on a near party line vote. Senators Collins (R-ME) and Murkowski (R-AK) voted No with all Democrats.

Senate is NOW officially on the Barrett nomination. McConnell then filed cloture setting up a procedural vote for Sunday to limit debate on the nomination to 30 hours prior to a confirmation vote expected Monday.

McConnell from Senate flr:"I've had an opportunity for quite a long time to observe confirmation process through various ups & downs,periods when nominees were confirmed almost overwhelmingly & periods during which they were heated,to put it mildly,contests over the nomination."

McConnell on confirmation process: "The Senate, over the last 40 or 50 yrs, is that it's in an assertive period...Viewing the whole process as a joint thing. That the President has a role to play and the Senate has a role to play."

McConnell on Senate advise and consent role: "And at various times in the history of our country, the Senate's been pretty passive about it. At other times, they been pretty agressive about it. But the Constitution is clear, the Senate has a role if it chooses to exercise it."

McConnell: "It's a matter of fact, a matter of history, that it was Senate Democrats who first began our contemporary difficulties with judicial nominations back in 1987. And who have initiated every meaningful escalation, every single one of them, then up to the present day."

McConnell in 1987 Senate confirmation process of Robert Bork: "Even some of the people who directly involved in 'Borking' Bork, Democrats, by the way, say they regret that low moment and what it has unleashed in the years since."

McConnell on Senate rules changes from 60 to simple majority to break filibusters on SCOTUS nominations: "Ironically, we're back to where we were,the entire executive calendar will now be dealt with as it was a few years ago before all of this back and forth w/a simple majority."

McConnell: "The good news is this: in about 72 hours, I anticipate we'll have a third new Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, in about 72 hours."

Senate NOW voting to table/kill Schumer motion to indefinitely postpone the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Simple majority is needed.

Schumer from Senate floor responds to McConnell on Barrett nomination: "We have just heard a tit for tat, convoluted version of history that the Majority Leader uses to justify steering the Senate towards one of the lowest moments in its long history."

Schumer looking at McConnell on Senate floor: "Might does not make right. You did something wrong, so we can do something wrong is no justification when the rights of the America people are at stake."

Schumer on Senate confirming a Supreme Court justice in an election year now versus not in 2016: "Consistency? Afraid not. You don't have the right to argue consistency when you're doing what you're doing now."

Senate NOW voting to table/kill Schumer motion to recommit the Barrett nomination to Senate Judiciary Cmte. Simple majority is needed.

US Senate in its first procedural vote today on Judge Barrett voted 51-46 to begin debate on her nomination. Republican Senators Collins of Maine and Murkowski of Alaska joined all Democrats in voting No. senate.gov/legislative/LI…

Schumer from Senate floor on Barrett nomination: "It’s not about qualifications. It's about what the American people need and want, and whether an unelected body will take those rights away from them."

Schumer:"Our GOP majority’s monomaniacal drive to confirm this Justice in most hypocritical,most inconsistent of circumstances will forever defile Senate,& even more importantly,curtail fundamental rights of Am. people for generations to come.Democrats will play no part in that."