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adigal

(7,581 posts)
Tue Jan 17, 2017, 06:55 PM Jan 2017

Can Senators in Committees put a hold on nominees?

Franken just discovered that the ignorant woman DeVos doesn't understand the difference between growth and proficiency. That her family has supported conversion therapy for LGBT kids. Sanders brought up that her family has given $200 million dollars to the Republicans and that she wouldn't be sitting there if they hadn't.

And Sen. Alexander is only allowing them a few minutes of questions. Franken is hopping mad. Can they put a hold on this?

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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skylucy

(3,851 posts)
1. Thanks for posting. Couldn't bring myself to watch the hearings because DeVos makes me
Tue Jan 17, 2017, 07:01 PM
Jan 2017

so disgusted and angry, I didn't think it would be good for my health. At least the Dems are trying to get to the truth, although I fear that the GOPutin will eventually prevail and approve DeVos and the rest of Trump's deplorable picks.

drray23

(7,936 posts)
3. End of their term ?
Tue Jan 17, 2017, 07:17 PM
Jan 2017

That could be years. I do remember that some gop senators did that in the past when you could actually place secret holds. I think they changed it so it can no longer be secret.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
4. There are still open and closed holds.
Tue Jan 17, 2017, 07:20 PM
Jan 2017

But they can be overridden and given that the GOP has the votes any hold would be symbolic.

Phoenix61

(17,575 posts)
5. Ok, so it's symbolic
Tue Jan 17, 2017, 07:38 PM
Jan 2017

Why not do it? Sometimes you need to be like a mosquito. Why? Have you ever tried to sleep with a mosquito buzzing around? Being nice isn't going to change anything. I'm not sure anything would so why not irritate the heck out of them.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
9. I agree. My feeling is that the Democratic Senators
Wed Jan 18, 2017, 10:55 AM
Jan 2017

should put a hold on every nominee and go public with the exact reasons for the hold. The normal GOP tactic is the secret hold.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
11. DeVos "claims" at this time to support the idea of publci schools.
Wed Jan 18, 2017, 10:59 AM
Jan 2017

Even though she has worked to defund them. If I were a Democratic Senator, I would put a public hold on her nomination and explain to the press exactly why I was doing so. The GOP still has the votes to confirm, but at least explain why there are concerns.

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