(Photo: Bloomberg)
Judy Shelton's nomination to the Federal Reserve Board was blocked in the Senate Tuesday, a stunning setback for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and a blow to President Donald Trump's drive to shake up the U.S. central bank before he leaves office.
After Covid-19 exposure forced two Republican senators into quarantine, the GOP was left short of the votes needed to overcome united Democratic opposition. McConnell switched his vote to no once the outcome became clear, a tactical move that would allow him to bring the nomination up for reconsideration. That could happen as soon as this week if one of the two quarantining senators can return.
Republican Senators Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine joined with 47 Democrats and two independents in a 50-47 vote against advancing Shelton's nomination. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris traveled from Delaware, where she was working with the Biden transition team, to Washington to cast her vote.
McConnell's plans to confirm Shelton on Tuesday were blown up in the morning when Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley announced he would be in quarantine after exposure to someone who tested positive for Covid-19. He later tweeted that he had tested positive for the virus, which is all but certain to keep him away from Capitol Hill this week.
GOP Senator Rick Scott of Florida announced on Saturday that he was exposed to someone who tested positive for Covid-19 and would self-quarantine.
Grassley and Scott were expected to back Shelton, so the timing of their return could determine whether McConnell will bring her nomination back up.
Although McConnell preserved the ability to bring the nomination before the Senate for reconsideration, the calendar is tight and the vote count doesn't get easier for Republicans.
