Reid delays vote on judicial streamlining bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) postponed a planned vote on legislation that would streamline the judicial confirmation process because of a pending deal with Republican lawmakers.

Reid noted that Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) was on the verge of striking a deal with Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) that would allow the bill to come down by unanimous consent.

To hedge against the possibility that talks break down, Reid scheduled a cautionary vote for Wednesday on the legislation. Reid won unanimous consent that if cloture is invoked Wednesday, the Senate will act as if cloture were invoked Tuesday night, in order to allow for faster consideration of the bill.

The Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011 is a timesaving measure designed to eliminate the need for executive nominees for minor posts in the government to be confirmed by the Senate as a whole. Instead it would allow the process to be dealt with on a committee level. 

Reid's announcement came just minutes after Republicans, along with four Democrats, voted down the Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding bill in a procedural vote. 

The Senate adjourned shortly before 6:30 p.m.