Senate is holding a procedural vote on Vanita Gupta for associate AG this morning.
If she advances, a final vote is today.
Dems are now benefiting from McConnell using the nuclear option in 2019 to cut debate time from 30 hours to 2 hrs for sub-Cabinet noms and district judges.
51-49, Vanita Gupta advances to a final vote.
Lisa Murkowski was the lone Republican "yes" on the Vanita Gupta procedural vote, which avoided the need for the VP to break the tie.
Senate votes 51-49 to confirm Vanita Gupta to be associate Attorney General.
Lisa Murkowski (R) and all Democrats vote yes.
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"He has put his ideas out, and he's put a way to pay for it out. And he is anxious to look at other people's ideas," a White House adviser said. "The one thing that he will not agree to is inaction. These are investments the country has needed for years." nbcnews.com/politics/congr…
New: Some immigration lawyers and progressives warn that Democrats’ voting-rights bill could unintentionally harm immigrants.
There’s a behind-the-scenes push to get the Senate to tweak HR1’s automatic voter registration language to minimize errors. nbcnews.com/politics/congr…
At issue is how automatic voter registration should be structured. Dems and progressives agree AVR is good—but HR1 drafters want a “front end” system that requires an opt out; others favor a “back end” system with a new filter like eligibility docs before triggering registration.
One HR1 fear: US law is strict. If a visa or green card holder checks the wrong box or misunderstands a DMV clerk's question, and gets registered to vote, they can be deported or barred from citizenship. A lawyer calls false affirmation a "kiss of death." nbcnews.com/politics/congr…
NEW: This district has been a hot spot for political movements that have tracked the national mood for a decade. Now, @SpanbergerVA07 sees temperatures cooling.
A fleeting calm? Or a roadmap for Dems to buck the midterm curse?
Virginia-07 has been a unique kind of bellwether: It was Eric Cantor’s home in era of GOP as the party of biz. Flipped to Dave Brat with populist right, foreshadowing Trump. Turned blue in ‘18 with Spanberger.
The last two presidents faced an immediate backlash to their presidencies at this point. Obama had the tea party. Trump had the #resistance. But—for now—there's no equivalent grassroots uprising to Biden's agenda. His party-line $1.9 trillion stimulus didn't seem to ignite one.
Biden’s advisers are crafting a $3 trillion package on infrastructure and other provisions, financed with tax increases, a source familiar with the plan tells NBC (confirming NYT/ @jimtankersley). Details still in flux.
Chuck Schumer promises gun control votes, including on House-passed bills. But the House universal background checks bill lacks the votes: Even Joe Manchin is against it, says it goes too far. What can pass? Some version of Manchin-Toomey. Maybe. If that. nbcnews.com/politics/congr…
There is clearly a path to 50 Senate votes on a substantial gun background checks bill. But 60? Not so clear.
Senate Judiciary Chair @DickDurbin says his committee will hold a hearing tomorrow on proposals to reduce gun violence, with subcommittee chair @SenBlumenthal taking the helm.
The House recently passed a couple of bills to bolster background checks and close gaps in the system.
Durbin — again — takes aim at the filibuster, warning that it stands in the way of passing gun control. He says Democrats are "hoping that maybe there's a bipartisan sentiment that can reach 60 votes" on "thoughtful" measures to cut violence. But he doesn't sound optimistic.
Durbin responds to McConnell's defense of the 60-vote rule: "If the Senate can work with a filibuster, show us," he says. "Work with us to pass important legislation."