Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has been a member of the Senate for more than 30 years. As of Thursday, however, she has been missing from the chamber for roughly six weeks after a shingles diagnosis. With no timeline for her return, her absence has made Senate Democrats’ already-slim majority even tighter, particularly on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Without her vote, more than a dozen nominees for the federal bench had been stuck in the queue, before seven appointments managed to squeak through Thursday with modest Republican support.
But Democrats are struggling to find a solution for the other nominees, and there is zero chance of subpoenaing Justice Clarence Thomas to testify about his reported ethical violations without Feinstein in attendance. Senate Republicans have proclaimed satisfaction with the status quo and promised to block any temporary replacement for Feinstein on Judiciary. But here’s the thing: If they were smart, they’d have let Democrats have their way. Instead, they’ve likely sped up the process for Feinstein’s permanent departure from the Senate.
Feinstein should look at who is blocking her attempt to keep her seat without angering her party.
Feinstein’s office issued a statement last week saying that she’s requested Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., “to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until I’m able to resume my committee work.” On the surface, that seems like the perfect solution. But temporarily trading committees in the middle of a session isn’t easily done.
Like almost all Senate rules, though, the committee’s membership could be changed via unanimous consent, where all 100 senators give their leave to fudge things just a bit. Alternatively, the body could pass a resolution to shift committee assignments, which would require 60 votes to break any potential filibuster. In the last several days, though, the Senate GOP has with various degrees of cattiness made…
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