15 senators missing for Senate votes Tuesday

15 senators were missing in action for today's nomination votes.

Four Democrats, one independent who caucuses with Democrats, and 10 Republicans were no-shows for two votes in the Senate.

Senators voted to confirm Joseph Greenaway to a federal circuit court judgeship, 84-0 (with 16 not voting), while a vote to invoke cloture on National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) nominee Craig Becker fell short, 52-33.

It's not clear what kept the senators from voting on the two nominations this afternoon.

The absent senators were Sens. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), John Ensign (R-Nev.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Thune (R-S.D.), and David Vitter (R-La.).

Another major snowstorm has begun bearing down on D.C., which has affected a number of House and Senate lawmakers' plans this week. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) canceled votes the rest of this week.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) signaled Tuesday that Senate votes are unlikely on Wednesday, in the aftermath of the latest storm. He still pressed ahead with today's votes, though the federal government and many D.C. offices remained closed.

But it's not clear whether senators, if they were kept out of town due to weather, will be able to return later this week -- or if they would even bother, with the prospect of next week's President's Day recess on the horizon.

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