Senate eyes quick getaway after impeachment vote

Senate Republicans are signaling they could quickly leave town after back-to-back votes on Wednesday on the two articles of impeachment.
The plan, which would have senators leaving Washington by Wednesday evening, comes after senators have spent weeks stuck in the Capitol amid an impeachment trial that frequently went late into the night and included a Saturday session.
Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Republican senator, when asked if senators would leave after the two votes indicated that it was under discussion.
“I think the most likely scenario is, yeah, after the votes tomorrow we wrap for the week,” Thune said.
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), another member of GOP leadership, added that senators could use a buffer between the end of the impeachment trial and a return to legislative business.
“Probably a little separation would be good for us, at least a long weekend,” Blunt said.
The Senate is scheduled to vote on the two articles of impeachment at 4 p.m. Senators will stand and vote from their desk when their name is called.
The Senate’s normal weekly schedule is to come in on Monday evening and hold a final vote on Thursday afternoon.
Because the Senate has been in the impeachment trial for weeks there is not another piece of legislation or nomination lined up for a vote that could take place on Thursday afternoon.
Anything Republicans wanted to try to squeeze in this week Democrats could kick into next week by forcing the GOP leader to file cloture — a procedural step that would effectively block something from being voted on Thursday.
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