Reid postpones vote due to weather

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) postponed a confirmation vote on Patricia Millett to serve on the D.C. Circuit Court.

The Senate will now vote on her nomination — the first since Reid used the “nuclear option” to change the Senate filibuster rules — Tuesday morning after leader remarks.

{mosads}Winter weather has caused flight delays for several senators and it could get worse tomorrow morning in Washington, D.C., as a second storm is expected to deliver between 1-5 inches of snow.

“Because of the myriad of problems with the weather … we’re going to have to put off the votes this afternoon,” Reid said on the Senate floor Monday.

The rule change, which occurred before the two-week Thanksgiving break, allows a simple majority of senators to end debate on an executive nominee, before 60 votes were needed.

Republicans warned that Democrats would regret the change once they are in the minority.

Democrats are expected to have an easier time moving several of Obama’s nominees that have been blocked, including Mel Watt to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency and other D.C. Circuit nominees.

Reid said Monday morning that he also wants to finish work on the national defense authorization bill, sanctions against Iran and passing a budget among other things before the Senate recesses for Christmas.