Raw Story: Susan Collins rejects Trump request to bypass confirmation hearings for nominees: report

[Dennis Donovan]

Raw Story - Susan Collins rejects Trump request to bypass confirmation hearings for nominees: report

Travis Gettys
November 20, 2024 1:22PM ET



Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) indicated she would not go along with Donald Trump's demand to bypass confirmation hearings for his Cabinet nominees.

The Maine Republican called Wednesday for "extensive committee investigations" for the president-elect's health administration appointees and echoed concerns by other lawmakers that Trump would skip several steps in the vetting process by making recess appointments, reported Axios.

"[Recess appointments] avoid and evade the Senate's constitutional duty to do advice and consent," Collins told Axios. "That means a background check, it means extensive committee investigations and questionnaires and public hearings."

Senate Republicans have already rejected a proposal by Trump's advisers to allow private investigators to perform background checks of nominees instead of the FBI, and Collins said the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) on which she serves would hold hearings on those nominees, who would then ultimately be confirmed by the Senate Finance Committee.

"Trump has tapped ex-Independent presidential nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services — an agency he could dramatically reshape," Axios reported. "He also selected TV personality Mehmet Oz to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Oz has no experience running a large government bureaucracy."

/snip

[hlthe2b]

1. Well, we've been "played" a lot by Sen. Collins, but maybe this will be one of the few times she holds

to her purported principles.

[BComplex]

2. I think she'll cave.

I doubt she's grown a pair.

[Hugin]

5. Not until she thinks Trump has learned his lesson.

That much is sure.

[Prairie Gates]

9. This is it, Charlie Brown! Get that kicking leg warmed up!

[0rganism]

3. Well, she does seem very "concerned"

Anyone putting faith in her to do the right thing is asking for disappointment.

[Karma13612]

4. Someone will donate

To her “retirement” fund and she’ll come around to Trump’s demands like she always does.

Then again, maybe she is not planning on a reelection campaign and in that case, maybe she will decide to do her job and represent the American people instead of Trump.

[displacedvermoter]

6. She has already announced she is running in 2026

[Prairie Gates]

7. Spoiler alert: She will go along with whatever Trump wants

After "reflection," of course.

One of the best things when Dems have a Senate majority is that you don't have idiot repoters trekking to Susan Collins' office to ask her what she thinks.

[Solly Mack]

8. Until proven otherwise

[TheKentuckian]

10. Her vote is only available if it isn't needed.

In this case, I suspect they can let her play because they have enough without her but maybe there are several more that don't want to surrender their own power.

[Trueblue1968]

11. Stay tough Suzie. I dont like you much but i think we both hate rump !!!

[lindysalsagal]

12. 3...2...1...she capitulates. As always.

[TheBlackAdder]

13. She'll do a Lucy later on, like she always does.

[ramedy]

14. Oh, please...

She will do whatever trump tells her to do.

Fuck you Susan.