Schumer moves to bring up Becerra’s nomination after committee tie

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Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Republicans put procedural delay on Haaland's nomination | Interior Department announces next steps in review of oil and gas lease moratorium | Judge approves .5B Daimler settlement in diesel emissions probe Frustrated progressives on relief package: 'We'll take the win' Manchin firm on support for filibuster, mulls making it 'a little bit more painful' to use MORE (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday moved to bring Xavier BecerraXavier BecerraOvernight Health Care: Biden slams Texas, Mississippi for lifting coronavirus restrictions: 'Neanderthal thinking' | Senate panel splits along party lines on Becerra |Over 200K sign up for ACA plans during Biden special enrollment period Senate panel splits along party lines on Becerra GOP targets Manchin, Sinema, Kelly on Becerra MORE's nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services to the full Senate after a committee deadlocked on advancing President BidenJoe BidenDNC beefs up its finance team Pentagon extends National Guard presence at Capitol through May 23 Blinken to appear before Foreign Affairs Committee MORE's nominee to lead the agency.

This is the first time Schumer has had to try to force a nomination out of committee, a step he can take under the rules governing the 50-50 Senate. 

"It's confounding to me that Mr. Becerra ... did not get some votes from the other side of the aisle. He is an eminently qualified member. He was an outstanding member of Congress, he was a very good attorney general and he has led the charge to keep people's healthcare," Schumer said.  

If Republicans are opposed to Becerra because of his defense of the Affordable Care Act, Schumer added that he would be "surprised. It's yesterday's news."  

Under the rule invoked by Schumer, the Senate will hold a four-hour debate and then a vote on Thursday on whether or not to bring Becerra's nomination to the floor, where Democrats will only need a simple majority to move forward.

Schumer would then still need to formally tee up votes on ending debate and confirmation, a step that will eat up days of time, before the Senate can take a final vote on Becerra's nomination.

The Senate Finance Committee split evenly last week along party lines in a vote on advancing Becerra's nomination to the full Senate.

Republicans quickly hardened in opposition against Becerra after he was nominated, attacking him over what they say is a lack of health care experience, as well as his views on abortion and his support for "Medicare for All." 

It is unclear if any GOP senators will vote for his nomination in the full Senate. If they all oppose him, he'll need the support of every Democratic senator and Vice President Harris to break a tie. 

Sen. Dick DurbinDick DurbinBiden DOJ nominee apologizes for 'harsh rhetoric' amid GOP criticism Democrats near pressure point on nixing filibuster  Senate approves sweeping coronavirus measure in partisan vote MORE (D-Ill.) told reporters on Tuesday that he expects he'll have the votes to get confirmed, but Sen. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinWhite House chief of staff: Young a 'very serious candidate' for OMB director Overnight Defense: Pentagon chief to press for Manchin's support on Colin Kahl | House Dems seek to limit transfer of military-grade gear to police Schumer moves to break GOP holds on Haaland MORE (D-W.Va.) indicated last week that he hadn't made a decision.

Heritage Action, a conservative grassroots group, announced last week that it was spending $500,000 on an ad campaign to try to pressure Manchin and Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Mark KellyMark KellySenate rejects Cruz effort to block stimulus checks for undocumented immigrants The eight Democrats who voted 'no' on minimum wage Democratic centrists flex power on Biden legislation MORE (D-Ariz.) to vote against his nomination. 

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