Mitch McConnell is smiling
Chuck Hagel Confirmation: Senate Vote Fails To End Filibuster On Obama Pick
by Sabrina Siddiqui
Senate Republicans successfully foiled attempts to confirm Chuck Hagel for the post of defense secretary on Thursday, by denying him the 60 votes needed for the nomination to proceed.
Democrats ultimately came up short of the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture and end the Republicans’ filibuster, with a final vote count of 58 to 40. Republican Sens. Mike Johanns (Neb.), Susan Collins (Maine), Thad Cochran (Miss.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) voted with Democrats in their failed effort to end debate. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) voted present.
The nomination is hardly dead. In fact, it looks increasingly likely that Democrats will be able to muster the needed votes to confirm Hagel’s nomination after a 10-day recess.
But the failure to end the GOP filibuster is still is a setback for the administration, which wanted a fast confirmation process, and Senate Democratic leadership, whose decision to punt on filibuster reform at the beginning of this congressional session was met with criticism.
Earlier in the day, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said it was “tragic” that Senate Republicans decided to filibuster a “qualified nominee.”
“It’s really unfortunate,” Reid said on the Senate floor.
This is on you, Harry, resign as Majority Leader.
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