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Timing of Perdue vote still up in the air

The timetable for a Senate vote on Sonny Perdue as Secretary of Agriculture remains up in the air.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, says Perdue could receive committee approval this week. The question, Grassley says, is whether the full Senate will vote on Perdue before it breaks for its Easter recess next week.

“If he’s not going to be filibustered, or have to have long hours of debate, he could easily be worked in next week while we’re working on the Supreme Court nominee,” Grassley says.

Perdue will eventually be approved, Grassley says.

“It is very unusual that you don’t have every cabinet person in place after 60 days of an administration,” he says. “But you know how the Democrats are handling it, with their filibuster after filibuster after filibuster. It just takes a long time to get people approved. But they’re going to be approved, and he will be approved.”

Agriculture Secretary was the final cabinet nomination made by the Trump Administration.  It was announced just prior to Trump’s inauguration in January.

AUDIO: Excerpt from Grassley conference call with ag reporters