Democratic objections to delay Branstad confirmation

CEDAR RAPIDS - This time next week, Gov. Terry Branstad is likely to be the United States ambassador to China, Sen. Chuck Grassley predicted Thursday.

The Iowa Republican expects a vote on Branstad's appointment as early as Tuesday, despite Democratic senators forcing a cloture vote on President Donald Trump's nomination.

'Realize he got out of committee on unanimous consent,” Grassley said. After a hearing last week, the Foreign Relations Committee recommended Branstad's conformation unanimously on a voice vote. 'Now we want to get him through the United States Senate and we have to file a cloture motion on it.”

The objections may not be related to Branstad, 'but just the normal obstruction that's going on out here,” Grassley said. 'It's just nonsense.”

Or the objections could be a way of Democratic senators voicing displeasure with Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey, Grassley speculated.

The objection means the Senate will have a cloture vote, probably Monday, to end debate on the nomination. At that point, each party gets 15 hours for debate. Republicans will give back their time, he said, but Democrats could delay a confirmation vote for 15 hours.

That won't scuttle Branstad's nomination, however, Grassley said.

'It's not going to prevent Branstad from being approved,” Grassley said. 'It's just a question is it going to be one day or is it going to take two or three days.

'By next week, he'll be ambassador to China as far as I can tell,” he said.

Branstad will then resign as governor - perhaps not immediately - which will begin the transition of Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds ascending to the office of governor.

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