In the wee hours of the morning (just after 2 am), the Senate voted 52-47 to approve the nomination of Rep. Tom Price as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Price had solid backing from Senate Republicans. The chamber’s Democrats delayed the final vote by holding the floor for the full 30 hours permitted to them under Senate rules, continuing a tactic they utilized for two other Cabinet nominations this week.
The former Republican House Budget Committee Chairman is expected to move quickly to help Republicans substantially revise the ACA.
Shortly after, the Senate voted to limit debate on Treasury Secretary nominee Steven Mnchin by a 53-46 vote. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) broke ranks and voted with the Republicans, while Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) sat out the vote. The vote to limit debate on Mnuchin’s nomination moves him one step closer to confirmation. As with all other nominees, Senate Democrats now have the right to debate for 30 hours before moving to a final vote.
Senate Democrats have fiercely opposed Mnuchin’s nomination. They refused to show up to the committee-level vote on his confirmation after arguing that the nominee provided insufficient answers to their questions on foreclosures by the bank he once led, OneWest. Republicans slammed Democrats as being obstructionists. The Senate is expected to have a final vote on Monday.
On February 16, the Senate Finance Committee also will hold its first hearing on the nomination of Seema Verma to become the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.