So the battle for the next Attorney General is already brewing:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/...
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-N.Y., wants to confirm Loretta Lynch, President Obama's nominee for attorney general, before January, when Republicans will retake control of the Senate.
"I've not spoken to Senator [Harry] Reid about his intentions, but I would like to see us move forward," Murphy said on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday. "I think this is an important post and I think we should have somebody on the ground sooner than later."
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said Democrats should wait to confirm Lynch until the new class of elected officials arrives in Washington. "I think it would be in the best interest of the country and the Congress to wait and do this next year under regular order," he said.
Thune noted that it's unlikely that the post of attorney general will be left vacant if Lynch is not confirmed before January. "Eric Holder said he's not going anywhere soon, so it's not like the position isn't going to be filled," Thune said. - National Journal, 11/9/14
Thune's already worried about Obama using his executive decisions to overcome the GOP's obstruction:
http://www.argusleader.com/...
U.S. Sen. John Thune said congressional leaders and President Obama engaged in a “frank discussion” Friday as Republicans urged the president not to use executive authority to act alone on significant issues ahead of next year’s GOP-held House and Senate.
Thune was among the leaders of both chambers who met with the president Friday to discuss their legislative priorities. Republicans will assume leadership of the Senate next year, and Thune is in line to remain the third-ranking Senate Republican and become chairman of the Commerce Committee.
If Obama acts unilaterally on high-profile measures such as immigration reform, it could amount to “poisoning the water” for working with Republicans on other significant legislation, Thune said.
“There’s always a sense after an election of optimism and hope, and everybody wants to be productive,” Thune said. “We want to open the place up again.”
Obama as expected pushed for funding to combat the Ebola virus and discussed how to combat IS. Republicans have said previously that they want to make changes to the Affordable Care Act and move quickly on the Keystone XL pipeline, which would cut through South Dakota in transporting oil from the Canadian tar sands to Nebraska.
Thune said Republicans also wants to work on trade policies and move forward with some of the jobs proposals that have stalled under current Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid. - Argus Leader, 11/8/14
This is why it's important for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D. NV) to get not only Lynn confirmed but also the remaining Obama judicial nominees during the lame duck session. Click here to add your name to the Daily Kos' petition urging Reid to take action during the lame duck session:
https://www.dailykos.com/...