Dems boycott confirmation votes for Trump nominees | TheHill

Senate Democrats on Tuesday refused to attend a committee vote on two of President Trumps more controversial nominees, effectively delaying their consideration.

Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee boycotted votes to advance Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), Trumps pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services, and Steven Mnuchin, his selection to head the Treasury Department. The pair had been among some of the more contentious selections to join Trumps Cabinet.

I cant understand why senators, who know were going to have these two people go through, cant support the committee, said Chairman Orrin HatchOrrin HatchOvernight Healthcare: Republicans say ObamaCare repeal starts this spring Manufacturers call for vote on Treasury nominee Mnuchin Overnight Finance: Dems hit Trump over Dodd-Frank plans | GOP faces decision on ObamaCare taxes | Trump aide talks Fannie, Freddie reform MORE (R-Utah).

Im very disappointed in this kind of crap. Some of this is because they just dont like the president.

This is the most pathetic thing Ive seen in my whole time in the United States Senate, he added.

"I think they ought to stop posturing and acting like idiots."

Hatch told reporters onTuesdayafternoon that he hopes to try to hold a committee voteagainon Wednesday.

"If I can; I'd sure like to," he said.

Asked what could changeby then that could get Democrats to drop their boycott, Hatch said, "Well I'm not going to get into that."

Democrats walked out of the Senate Finance Committee hearing room Tuesday morning, arguing that Mnuchin and Price misled senators in their testimony before the panel, and saying they could not allow a vote to proceed without more information.

"He misled Congress and he misled the American people," Sen. Ron WydenRon WydenTrumps pick for CIA No. 2 prompts Dem fears Liberals should celebrate the Gorsuch nomination Senators to Trump: We support additional Iran sanctions MORE (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the panel, said of Price.

Democrats said they wanted to bring Price and Mnuchin in for further questions, saying some of their statements did not line up with the facts.

"We have great concern that Chairman Hatch is asking us to vote today on two nominees who out and out lied to our committee," said Sen. Sherrod BrownSherrod BrownThe Trump opposition: Hell hath no fury like Democrats' scorn Senate votes to repeal transparency rule for oil companies Nine Dem senators say hiring freeze hurting trade enforcement MORE (D-Ohio).

Updated 2:58 p.m.

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Dems boycott confirmation votes for Trump nominees | TheHill

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