By Pete Kasperowicz, Washington Examiner
Senate Democrats on Wednesday abandoned the idea of holding another all-night “talk-a-thon” to protest a key Cabinet nominee of President Trump’s, after holding two back-to-back all nighters to protest two other nominees.
Democratic leaders didn’t offer a public explanation for the move, but it came after their all-night debate sessions Monday and Tuesday failed to move the needle on Trump’s picks.
On Monday, Senate Democrats stayed up all night to protest the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be Trump’s education secretary. Senators spoke all day Monday and into the evening, and worked to generate support from followers.
Thank you to the @SenateDems for holding the Senate floor and voting no against Betsy DeVos. Retweet to cheer them on! #holdthefloor pic.twitter.com/r2XXmT4izs
— UltraViolet (@UltraViolet) February 7, 2017
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., cited rallies outside the capitol in which people opposed DeVos’ nomination.
While the GOP is pushing a vote on Betsy DeVos, the people are rallying outside. We’re with them. #VoteNoDevos pic.twitter.com/uTTeEgEHFE
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 7, 2017
DeVos was confirmed 51-50, after Vice President Pence broke a 50-50 deadlock.
Undeterred, Democrats held the Senate open all night again on Tuesday to speak against another key nominee.
“Senate Democrats are once again going to hold the floor all night — this time to speak out against Senator Jeff Sessions’ nomination for attorney general,” Democrats said on their Facebook page.
That all-nighter led to fireworks, when Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was deemed to be violating a Senate rule prohibiting senators from impugning the motives or character of other sitting senators.
That floor fight led to more angry Democratic tweets, but still did nothing to change the outcome of the Sessions vote. He was confirmed 52-47 on Wednesday, but Schumer thanked Senate staff nonetheless for helping them to protest the vote.
Read more at http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/democrats-scrap-all-nighters-after-devos-sessions-votes/article/2614343
