While Democrats are holding debates for 2020 and the media is completely distracted, Mitch McConnell has been very busy.
Everyone in Washington is preparing to take the month of August off, but in a final act of business in the Senate, Mitch McConnell just got 13 more Trump judges approved.
Amazing.
The Hill reports:
Senate confirms 13 Trump judges ahead of August break
The Senate confirmed 13 of President Trump’s judicial picks this week, helping clear the deck ahead of the five-week August recess.
The nominees were split up throughout the week with four confirmation votes taking place on Tuesday and nine on Wednesday, three of which were by voice votes.
“For too long fairly uncontroversial judicial nominees just like these have been held up and delayed by our Democratic colleagues even when the vacancy qualifies as a judicial emergency. Uncontroversial district judges used to be confirmed promptly in big groups by voice vote,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said from the Senate floor ahead of the votes on Wednesday.
Republicans have placed a premium on confirming Trump’s judicial picks, arguing that they are the best shot at having a long-term impact on the direction of the country. Republicans have confirmed more than 100 court picks for Trump since 2017, including two Supreme Court justices and a record number of appeals court judges.
The confirmation of 13 nominees is down from the 19 judges Senate Republicans had planned to confirm before leaving Washington until September. The other judges are expected to get a vote once the Senate returns in September.
Here’s a play-by-play from the Senate Cloak Room account:
Confirmed, 56-34: Executive Calendar #364 William Shaw Stickman IV to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania
— Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) July 31, 2019
Confirmed, 87-3: Executive Calendar #350 Martha Maria Pacold to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois
— Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) July 31, 2019
Confirmed, 54-36: Executive Calendar #345 Jason K. Pulliam to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Texas
— Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) July 31, 2019
Confirmed, 51-39: Executive Calendar #232 Brantley Starr to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas
— Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) July 31, 2019
Confirmed, 54-36: Executive Calendar #205 Mark T. Pittman to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas
— Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) July 31, 2019
Confirmed. Confirmed. Confirmed.
McConnell got the job done for thirteen judges.
He’s a machine.
Cross posted from American Lookout.
