‘Biggest loser’: Senate Dems vow to hold Trump accountable after Kavanaugh vote

The Senate Democrats vowed to hold President Donald Trump accountable for the devastating blow to the American economy and economy-wide after the Senate voted 52-48 Friday to confirm his nomination to run the Internal Revenue Service.
The vote was a major setback for Trump, who campaigned on a promise to bring back American jobs, revive the economy and restore economic growth.
Trump had already indicated he would not seek re-election.
But the Senate’s Republican leaders, Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn, used their 60-vote majority to override the president’s objections.
The House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to confirm Rep. Tom Price to lead the IRS.
Republicans have not yet made a decision on who to replace Price, but Trump will be forced to find a replacement.
The Senate Democrats also vowed to use the confirmation process to hold the president accountable for his handling of the storm and the health-care legislation.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he had been “delighted” by the outcome of Friday’s vote.
“Today’s Senate confirmation vote was another historic step in the direction of protecting our country and the American people,” he said.
“It is a clear signal to the president that the Senate will not hesitate to take action to protect Americans from the ravages of climate change.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, left, and Sen. Joe Manchin, D -W.”
I hope that this confirmation process, which will ultimately lead to the passage of his legislative agenda, will serve as a model for other senators.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, left, and Sen. Joe Manchin, D -W.
Va., right, speak after the vote on Senate confirmation of former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price, in Washington.
The Democrats’ decision was the second major blow to Trump since the Senate on Thursday confirmed his Cabinet picks.
The president’s nomination of Price, a former Georgia congressman, was the biggest loser for Republicans as he was expected to take over the reins of the IRS amid the government shutdown.
Price has long argued that his time in Congress has not been a failure, and he has said he will work to improve the tax code.
The GOP has also been working on a tax overhaul, but has struggled to coalesce around a plan and the Senate is not expected to move quickly.
Republican senators were still debating the fate of Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a moderate who has criticized Trump, but the Senate Republican leader, Mitch Daniels, said Friday he would support Flake.
Trump, a Trump loyalist, was expected Friday to name former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as secretary of state.
Tillerson has criticized the president for not taking the fight to the Iran nuclear deal, but he is expected to be confirmed.
The top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Corker, R -Tenn., said the confirmation of Price “will send a message that Republicans are united in our commitment to a stronger, more prosperous and more peaceful world.”