jct74
12-17-2013, 11:59 AM
Paul threatens to keep Senate from Christmas vacation over Fed fight
By Peter Schroeder
December 17, 2013, 11:35 am
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is threatening to keep the Senate in session by dragging out Janet Yellen’s confirmation as head of the Federal Reserve.
The noted central bank critic said Tuesday that he was prepared to force the Senate to exhaust the full 30 hours of debate on Yellen’s nomination if he did not receive a vote on his legislation to fully audit the Fed. His push comes as senators are trying to wrap up their work for the year.
Paul opposes Yellen’s nomination to head the Fed but said he would get out of the way if the Senate agreed to hold a vote on his legislation to fully audit the central bank. If not, he’s prepared to slow the process as much as possible.
“We’ll try to slow it down or stop it as much as we can,” he said. “We’ve told them that we will allow it to move forward and expedite it if they give us a vote on ‘Audit the Fed.’”
Paul and his supporters do not have the ability to actually block Yellen’s confirmation, after Senate Democrats changed the chamber’s rules to let nominees be confirmed with a simple majority vote. But he can drag out the process, something that could irritate colleagues hoping to get out of Washington for a holiday break.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Monday he wants to advance 11 nominees, including Yellen, before closing up shop. He added that he is prepared to keep the chamber in session until Christmas Eve if necessary to get it done, calling on Republicans to strike a compromise with Democrats to move those picks speedily.
Paul said he has met with Democratic leaders on the issue, and was searching for a deal.
...
read more:
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/economy/193360-paul-threatens-to-hold-up-senate-in-fed-fight
By Peter Schroeder
December 17, 2013, 11:35 am
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is threatening to keep the Senate in session by dragging out Janet Yellen’s confirmation as head of the Federal Reserve.
The noted central bank critic said Tuesday that he was prepared to force the Senate to exhaust the full 30 hours of debate on Yellen’s nomination if he did not receive a vote on his legislation to fully audit the Fed. His push comes as senators are trying to wrap up their work for the year.
Paul opposes Yellen’s nomination to head the Fed but said he would get out of the way if the Senate agreed to hold a vote on his legislation to fully audit the central bank. If not, he’s prepared to slow the process as much as possible.
“We’ll try to slow it down or stop it as much as we can,” he said. “We’ve told them that we will allow it to move forward and expedite it if they give us a vote on ‘Audit the Fed.’”
Paul and his supporters do not have the ability to actually block Yellen’s confirmation, after Senate Democrats changed the chamber’s rules to let nominees be confirmed with a simple majority vote. But he can drag out the process, something that could irritate colleagues hoping to get out of Washington for a holiday break.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Monday he wants to advance 11 nominees, including Yellen, before closing up shop. He added that he is prepared to keep the chamber in session until Christmas Eve if necessary to get it done, calling on Republicans to strike a compromise with Democrats to move those picks speedily.
Paul said he has met with Democratic leaders on the issue, and was searching for a deal.
...
read more:
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/economy/193360-paul-threatens-to-hold-up-senate-in-fed-fight