The Senate voted 51-48 Wednesday evening to end debate on President Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga.
The vote sets up a final confirmation vote for Price early Friday morning.
Senators voted to advance Price just after they confirmed Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., as President Trump’s attorney general.
Democrats have been protested the latest wave of Trump’s Cabinet nominees by keeping the Senate open and making their case to the public. But they have little power to stop the nominees, thanks to a Democratic rule change in 2013 that allows a simple majority of the Senate to confirm Trump’s picks.
Barring a decision by at least three Republicans to vote against the nominees, the only power Democrats have is to force the Senate to use up all 30 hours of remaining debate before a final vote is held.
