Schumer tees up nominations marathon as deal with Cruz elusive
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) sent a warning shot to Republicans on Wednesday night: Cut a quick deal on more than 20 Biden nominees or prepare to work into the week of Christmas.
Schumer, from the Senate floor on Wednesday night, teed up votes on 22 nominees, including several judicial picks and long-stalled ambassador nominations.
The move, which sets up a marathon series of votes to start on Friday absent an agreement, comes as Schumer and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) are in a standoff over confirming Biden's ambassador nominees, dozens of whom are awaiting a vote in the Senate but being held up by Cruz.
Cruz, according to GOP senators, had offered to lift his hold, which prevents quick confirmation of a nominee, on 16 of Biden's ambassador picks in exchange for getting a vote on Nord Stream 2 pipeline sanctions, his long-held goal.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/schumer-tees-nominations-marathon-deal-020516483.html