The Hitchhiker’s Guide to confirming Kash Patel and the marathon Senate voting session to tee up Trump era
The Senate made a significant decision on Thursday morning, breaking a filibuster on the nomination of Kash Patel to lead the FBI. The confirmation vote for Patel is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. ET, with the final result expected after 2 p.m. ET. It is anticipated that Patel will be confirmed along party lines.
Following the confirmation process, the Senate will shift its focus back to the budget framework in order to advance parts of President Donald Trump’s policy agenda. The budget debate, which began on Tuesday night, is a lengthy and arduous process that culminates in a marathon vote series known as a vote-a-rama. The last vote-a-rama involved 41 consecutive votes and lasted more than a day to complete.
The purpose of this exercise is to produce a final budget proposal that will allow Republicans to bypass the Senate filibuster later on. However, the proposal must be fiscally sound and not add to the deficit over a 10-year period. This phase is crucial in moving the President’s agenda forward, but it is not the final outcome.
Both the House and Senate must establish this legislative “chassis” to facilitate the debate on substantive and binding provisions of legislation in the future. Without this framework in place, a final bill cannot be achieved.
House Republicans are expected to push forward with their own budget plan next week, focusing more on tax cuts and receiving the President’s approval. However, alignment between the House and Senate is necessary for progress, and currently, they are working towards different goals.
In conclusion, the Senate’s decision to break the filibuster on Patel’s nomination marks a significant step in the legislative process. The budget framework is a crucial element in advancing the President’s policy agenda, but further coordination between the House and Senate is required for successful implementation.
Chad Pergram is a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC) based in Washington, D.C.
