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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 1 February
Democrats force delays in votes on 3 Cabinet nominees

ALAN FRAM The clashes came as the
Associated Press opening days of the Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen- administration have seen
ate Democrats blocked little of the honeymoon
committee votes on period new presidents usu-
three of President Don- ally experience. The chief
ald Trump’s highest-profile battleground has been
Cabinet picks Tuesday as Trump’s executive order
spiraling partisan hostility temporarily blocking refu-
over the fledgling adminis- gees worldwide and any-
tration’s refugee curbs and one from seven Muslim-
other initiatives seemed to majority nations.
seep into Congress’ work With liberal groups pressing
on nominations. them to fight Trump and a
In an unusual step, Demo- brutal battle looming over
crats boycotted planned his imminent pick for the
Senate Finance Committee Supreme Court vacancy,
votes on Rep. Tom Price, Tuesday’s delaying tactics
R-Ga., to become health let Democrats signal they
secretary and financier will use their limited power
Steven Mnuchin to head as the congressional minor-
the Treasury Department. ity to hamper the GOP.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, center, accompa- They accused both men of Republicans said they
nied by, from left, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-
Ohio, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.Y. and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., speaks in the hallway on Capitol lying about their financial would try reconvening
Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, to discuss opposition to Human Services Secretary- backgrounds, and since the Finance committee
designate, Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga. committee rules require at Wednesday to see if Dem-
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) least one Democrat to be ocrats would cooperate.
present, Republicans could Hatch planned to discuss
not hold roll calls. the standoff with Wyden.
“He didn’t tell the truth,” Senate Majority Leader
the committee’s top Dem- Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., all
ocrat, Sen. Ron Wyden of but taunted Democrats in
Oregon, said of reports that remarks to reporters. “It is
Price received preferential time to get over the fact
treatment in purchasing that they lost the election,”
stock in a biotech com- he said. “The president is
pany. “He misled the Con- entitled to have his Cabi-
gress and he misled the net appointments consid-
American people.” ered. None of this is going
The tactic infuriated Re- to lead to a different out-
publicans, even though the come.”
GOP boycotted a commit- Price, Mnuchin and Ses-
tee vote on Gina McCarthy sions still seem certain to
to head the Environmental win eventual Senate con-
Protection Agency in 2013 firmation, and other nomi-
when Democrats ran the nees made progress. The
Senate. “They ought to full Senate confirmed Elaine
stop posturing and acting Chao to be transportation
like idiots,” said committee secretary, while commit-
Chairman Orrin Hatch, R- tees advanced three oth-
Utah. “Are they that bitter er Trump picks, including
about Donald Trump? The wealthy GOP contributor
answer has to be yes.” Betsy DeVos to head the
At the Senate Judiciary Education Department.
Committee, Democrats Democrats said their ob-
criticized Sen. Jeff Ses- jections to Price were
sions, R-Ala., Trump’s nomi- prompted by a Wall Street
nee for attorney general, Journal report in which offi-
in speeches that lasted cials of Innate Immunother-
as long as 30 minutes apeutics Ltd. said Price got
apiece. After four-and-a- a special offer to buy stock
half hours, panel Chairman at a low price.
Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, Price had testified to Con-
adjourned the session and gress that the shares he
set a new meeting for purchased were available
Wednesday. to all investors. They’ve also
“He’s been the fiercest, opposed him for his sup-
most dedicated defender port for repealing President
in Congress of the Trump Barack Obama’s health
agenda,” California’s Di- care law and his plans to
anne Feinstein, the senior reshape Medicare and
Democrat on Judiciary, Medicaid, favorite Demo-
said of Sessions. cratic programs.q