Senate goes to war over judges

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Axios

10 hours ago


A fight over judges is serving as incoming Senate GOP leader John Thune's (R-S.D.) first showdown against Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Why it matters: Schumer is racing to jam through dozens of President Biden's judicial confirmations before the end of the year to break Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) record during the first Trump administration.

Thune personally presented a plan for an aggressive defense against Biden's last batches of judicial nominees during a regular leadership meeting Monday night, sources familiar told Axios.

It's Thune's first big moment since being elected to serve as the next GOP leader.

It's also sure to please some conservatives whose support he needed to get his leadership bid across the finish line — senators very familiar with procedural protest tactics.

Zoom in: That led to the Senate floor staying open past midnight as Republicans forced procedural votes to drag out the confirmation process.

Republicans are mad at Schumer for prioritizing judges over other must-pass legislation like the Farm Bill, defense authorization and appropriations.

President-elect Trump is egging on the fight, demanding Republicans prevent new judicial confirmations ahead of his inauguration.

🚪 Behind closed doors, Republican vs. Republican frustrations bubbled over Tuesday after missed votes that helped Schumer move forward on the nominations.

Vice President-elect Vance (R-Ohio), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) were specifically called out, sources in the room told Axios.

Vance defended himself in a since-deleted post on X by saying even if he had shown up to vote Monday night, it would not have changed the outcome.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, took point in urging colleagues not to skip inconvenient votes in case no-shows and a slim majority during the lame-duck session end up working in Democrats' favor.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/11/20/senate-judicial-confirmations-schumer-thune-trump

[underpants]

1. Wear them out Chuck.

👍

[FBaggins]

2. Not much ground left to gain

But we might as well grab what we can while we still have the option

[Bluetus]

3. Why should we rush through the farm bill?

Let Trump figure out how to pass the farm bill. None of those states voted for us.

Stop trying to solve the Republicans' problems for them.

Trump has never passed any significant legislation other than tax cuts. Don't do his job for him.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. "None of those states voted for us."

EVERY state has farms including the biggest one (which is also "blue" ) - California and the 4th biggest - New York (which is "blue" ).

California in particular has to deal with not only wildfires but drought and their crops include citrus, notably oranges (for out-of-hand eating), avocados (the famous "Hass" variety), almonds (90+% of the U.S. market), among others (including grapes for wine, etc).

NY has its apples, grapes, corn, soybeans, etc. They are also undergoing a drought like those of us in the upper Midatlantic.

The Farm Bill is already a year behind.

[Bluetus]

6. Those communities overwhelmingly vote red

Last edited Wed Nov 20, 2024, 02:37 PM - Edit history (1)

So F them. A small minority of farmers may be progressive-minded, and may be hurt a little.

But F them all. Let Trump pass this legislation. We get no credit for being the "adults in the room". It is time we started prioritizing our own interests. This is a big reason why so many Americans say "both parties are the same". They see us a sway too quick to compromise and way too unwilling to fight for the things we say we believe in.

As a practical matter, any work that Trump has to put into passing a farm bill is less attention to destroying some other agency. Let's see what the Republicans can do with zero Democratic votes.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. DU has a number of farmers who post here

who are not "red".

And as a note, since you obviously don't realize it, the Farm Bill contains the funding for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

You know, "Food Stamps" (now done through EBT = "Electronic Benefit Transfer" ).

So fuck those people who are getting supplemental food assistance, including many DUers?

Got it.

Senate farm bill differs from House on CCC, food stamp benefits


By Olivia M. Bridges
Posted November 18, 2024 at 4:59pm


The Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday released its long-awaited farm bill draft text with a little more than a month before funding for many farm programs dries up on Dec. 31. The release of the Senate bill could ramp up action during the lame-duck session, but it remains to be seen if lawmakers can complete work on a new farm bill or opt for another extension of the existing one. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer last week urged Congress to make progress on the legislation.

This farm bill will be Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow’s last opportunity to shape farm and nutrition policy before her exit at the end of the 118th Congress. “This is my vision,” Stabenow, D-Mich., said at a press briefing. “It’s important to me to put forward what I believe is a robust bill for farmers and ranchers.”

But the Senate bill still differs from the House bill in ways that may be difficult to overcome in the few legislative weeks available before the 118th Congress ends. The current law expired Sept. 30, but funds many programs through the calendar year. The bills differ over the size of increases to the so-called farm safety net.

Stabenow still says she opposes House Republican efforts to link food stamp benefits to inflation. Her bill also would restrict the Agriculture secretary’s use of Section 5 authority over the Commodity Credit Corporation, but for half the time House Republicans favor. And both bills still need to be paid for. They would raise spending above the baseline and would need to find offsetting revenue or cost cuts — or get the budget committees to override the Congressional Budget Office score.

(snip)

https://rollcall.com/2024/11/18/senate-farm-bill-differs-from-house-on-ccc-food-stamp-benefits/

[Bluetus]

9. Judges are 100 000X more important the next 60 days.

Period. We made it this far without the farm bill, letting the Republicans show what who they are is the best course forward. Our only hope of survival the next 2-4 years is some responsibility from the Judicial branch. We know there will be an AG bent on weaponizing all of DOF, just as J Edgar Hoover famously did with the FBI. Ever judge we can get seated in the next 60 days increases our outlook just a little.

I'm sorry if this impacts SNAP, but we have to think with our brains, not our emotions. Every remaining second of the Senate's time must be spent on seating judges.

And it would be nice if Biden could lift a finger to urge the Postal Board to dump DeJoy while there is still time. All this playing nice has royally screwed us.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. To respond

Judges are 100 000X more important the next 60 days. Period. We made it this far without the farm bill, letting the Republicans show what who they are is the best course forward. Our only hope of survival the next 2-4 years is some responsibility from the Judicial branch. We know there will be an AG bent on weaponizing all of DOF, just as J Edgar Hoover famously did with the FBI. Ever judge we can get seated in the next 60 days increases our outlook just a little.

The Judicial nominations are handled ONLY in the Senate and the Judiciary Committee has been working on finishing hearings to send to the floor for votes, while those who have been voted out of Committee are awaiting their final debates/votes.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is NOT the Senate Agriculture Committee, the latter of which has been working on the Farm Bill, so there will be ZERO impact on the confirmations and once votes are called, then all work ceases and they VOTE.

Meanwhile the (D) members of the House Committee on Agriculture (remember the House of Representatives?) have been doing their version.

The House and Senate versions need to match to be voted on eventually and sent for signature (or veto).

I'm sorry if this impacts SNAP, but we have to think with our brains, not our emotions. Every remaining second of the Senate's time must be spent on seating judges.

You don't seem to understand how a bill becomes a law, let alone how Congress operates. Here is the famous ditty to give you a clue -

And it would be nice if Biden could lift a finger to urge the Postal Board to dump DeJoy while there is still time. All this playing nice has royally screwed us.

Biden submitted 2 more nominees to replace those whose terms expired or will expire and those are awaiting confirmation. But of course you don't want those confirmations done (maybe set your sites on Schumer instead with the scheduling of confirmations).

[Bluetus]

11. The postal board already has a majority that could show DeJoy the door

Biden just did the GHW Bush "wouldn't be prudent" think He should have insisted that any of his appointees vote to fire DeJoy.

The board already consists of 5 Biden appointees and 2 Trump appointees, and nobody bothered to confirming the other two vacancies. 5 votes is enough to can DeJoy.

Don't lecture me about how the government works when you don't understand how the Postal governance works.

[republianmushroom]

5. Going to be an interesting 4 years

[wolfie001]

8. Yes! Get these sane Judges across the goal lines

Because the orange-fat-felon has a long list of christo-fascist pigs just waiting in the wings