Mitch McConnell Says Republicans Will Be Receptive To Biden’s Nominees
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would let President-elect Joe Biden’s cabinet nominees get consideration by the upper chamber. He pledged to do this, provided Republicans retain control of the chamber's majority next year.
McConnell appeared for an interview with former adviser Scott Jennings. He predicted that Republicans would be more open-minded when it comes to Biden's nominees, noting that Democrats weren't receptive to Trump's nominees in 2017. Pointing out that all nominees are not likely to pass on a voice vote or end up making it, McConnell assured that he would be putting them on the floor.
Furthermore, he assured that he will be treating Biden better than Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ever treated the outgoing president. Whether the Democrat or the Republican party will control the Senate depends on the results of two runoff elections in Georgia slated to take place on Jan. 5.
It is worth mentioning here that McConnell did not divulge details about the number of Biden's Cabinet picks he would allow to get through on the first day of the new administration. Last week, when reporters asked about Biden's Cabinet hours after he acknowledged him as the president-elect and publicly congratulated him for winning the election, McConnell said their priority is to finish up this session with the current administration.
He went on to tell the reporters that they will have plenty of time to talk about the way forward. McConnell and Biden have a decades-long relationship that encompasses making deals during the Obama administration, The Hill reported. McConnell lauded Biden while acknowledging his victory on the floor, noting that the former vice president is familiar with the Senate, and has devoted himself to public service for several years.
As Republican leader, McConnell had an adversarial approach towards Obama, blocked his nominees, and even vowed to make him a one-term president. Although McConnell claims he would be treating Biden a lot better than Schumer treated Trump, it is worth noting that some of Biden's nominees are still likely to face a confirmation fight in the Senate.
For instance, Neera Tanden, who has been nominated to serve as the director of the Office of Management and Budget and has been criticized by the Republicans for being "too partisan," per Bloomberg. McConnell said the election was a message from the people of America for Democrats and Republicans to operate between the 40-yard lines. He said the two parties could team up on infrastructure spending, which is a priority of the incoming president.