US Vice President Kamala Harris tied the all-time record of 31 tie-breaking votes cast by a vice president in the Senate on Wednesday.
Today’s vote served to ratify the nomination of attorney Kalpana Kotagal to serve as a member of the country’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
In the United States, the office of vice president has few formal obligations: succeeding the president in the event of his death or resignation, and presiding over the Senate, which gives him the power to cast tie-breaking votes in the 100-seat chamber.
The prerogative was of great importance during the last legislature, when the Upper House was divided exactly in half between Democrats and Republicans, with each party accumulating 50 seats.
So, Harris’ vote was decisive in approving some star plans of the Joe Biden government, such as the Inflation Reduction Act or the American Rescue Plan, as the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Chuck, recalled today from the chamber. Schumer.
“He has carried out his duties with supreme excellence,” said the politician, celebrating the record.
During this legislature, the progressives have an advantage of one senator, although technically they have fewer seats than the Republicans since three of their members are independent.
Harris matches the record for tiebreakers just over halfway through the four-year Biden Administration, so it’s likely he’ll end up setting a new tally.