Dems Force Delays in Votes on Price, Mnuchin, Sessions

Dems Force Delays in Votes on Price, Mnuchin, Sessions
Attorney General-designate Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. leaves his office on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 31, 2017. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
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WASHINGTON—Democrats forced delays Tuesday in planned Senate committee votes on President Donald Trump’s picks for Health and Treasury secretaries and attorney general, amid growing Democratic surliness over the administration’s aggressive early moves against refugees and an expected bitter battle over filling the Supreme Court vacancy.

Democrats abruptly boycotted a Senate Finance Committee meeting called to vote on Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., the Health nominee and Steve Mnuchin, Trump’s Treasury selection, saying both had misled Congress about their financial backgrounds.

The Democrats’ action prevented the Finance panel from acting because under committee rules, 13 of its members—including at least one Democrat—must be present for votes. It was unclear when the panel would reschedule to votes.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) speaks to media at Trump Tower in New York on Nov. 17, 2016. President-elect Donald Trump has picked Sessions for the job of attorney general. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) speaks to media at Trump Tower in New York on Nov. 17, 2016. President-elect Donald Trump has picked Sessions for the job of attorney general. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster