AP: Republicans Blame Ted Cruz For Year End Confirmations

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Unhappy Republicans say Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has given President Barack Obama a present this holiday season - a gift certificate good for confirmation of 12 judicial appointments, not long after the voters had delivered the Democrats a lump of coal in midterm elections.

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But there was no dissent that Democrats, who must turn over power to Republicans in January, were in position to confirm not only the judges, but 11 other appointees before the Senate wraps up work for the year.

Among them are nominees that Republicans have sought to block for two relatively high-profile posts. They are Vivek Murthy, confirmed late in the day as surgeon general, and Sarah Saldana to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that will oversee the new administration policy on immigration that Cruz wants to defund.

At the root of the dispute lay a combination of the Senate's all-but-indecipherable rules, Cruz's attempt to use their murky corners to his advantage, and a bipartisan desire of many lawmakers to finish work for the year and return home for the holidays.

"My concern about the strategy he employed is that it has a result he didn't intend," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said of Cruz' maneuverings on Friday night, when he sought to force a vote on Obama's immigration policy. Among the consequences, she said, would be confirmation of a number of appointees who are controversial, including some to "lifetime judicial" posts.

Some officials said Cruz was personally informed by GOP aides that Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid was primed to take advantage if he went ahead.

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Democrats seem to be enjoying thanking Cruz for his assist. Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, tweeted that he “[w]as worried Dr. Vivek Murthy might not get confirmed but thanks to @TedCruz, looks like he will.” And Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson tweeted, “I mean this sincerely: thank you, Senator Cruz.” Talking Points Memo has more detail here on the Cruz love that emerged from Democrats’ ranks over the weekend.

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Republican senators tore into Cruz and Lee, according to Politico. Sen. Kelly Ayotte said their strategy was “ridiculous,” Sen. Jeff Flake called it “counterproductive,” and Sen. Susan Collins told Cruz he was “going to make everybody miserable.”

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