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Confirming the GOP’s filibuster plans, Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas told reporters on Capitol Hill Wednesday that “there are a number of issues” with the appointment of Mayorkas.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has pushed for Mayorkas to be confirmed quickly, but Cornyn and other Senate Republicans argue Mayorkas was not properly vetted on immigration issues and are calling for a hearing additional on his appointment.
The use of filibuster – to block nominations or legislation – has long been a favored tool of the minority party, something Schumer has often done in trying to derail and delay the Republican agenda under President Donald Trump . In recent days, the continued use of filibuster on legislation has become a central sticking point over a resolution that would allow the 50-50 Senate to formally organize, but the stall tactic is unlikely to be further destroyed in Congress due to resistance from some moderates. Democrats.
Planned Republicans objections to Biden’s candidate for head of the Department of Homeland Security mean Schumer would have to take procedural action to overcome a filibuster on Mayorkas. The Democratic Senate leader would need 51 votes in the Senate to overcome the filibuster, a process sure to consume days of speaking time unless a deal is reached for a faster vote.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri tried to block Mayorkas’ quick review after the hearing, arguing in a statement that Mayorkas had failed to properly explain how he would secure the southern border of the United States.
In a letter Tuesday, Cornyn led seven other GOP senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee, including Hawley, to request a hearing for Mayorkas before their panel.
They argued that Mayorkas spoke at length about “immigration priorities” during his hearing on January 19, proving that immigration matters will be his “primary focus” and that the Senate Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over immigration matters. ‘immigration.
“All members of the Committee should be given the opportunity to hear directly from Mr. Mayorkas and to discuss publicly with him his plans for the immigration components and functions of the Ministry,” the Republican lawmakers wrote.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who is expected to chair the judicial committee, told CNN: “I do not see why this is necessary” and called the hearing request “totally political”.
While several of Biden’s candidates have been confirmed and moved at a slower pace than some of the Cabinet picks of his predecessors, Republicans had yet to threaten a candidate with filibustering until Wednesday. Mayorkas is now the first.
The department has not had a Senate-confirmed leader since Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was ousted in early 2019.
This story and title was updated with additional developments on Wednesday.
CNN’s Geneva Sands and Priscilla Alvarez contributed to this report.
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