US Senate Vote on Fed Nominee Shelton in Doubt as Grassley Quarantines

The exposure of another Republican senator to the coronavirus raised doubts on Tuesday about the U.S. Senate’s vote on Republican President 👤Donald Trump’s controversial pick for the Federal Reserve, former economic adviser Judy Shelton.

U.S. Republican Senator 👤Chuck Grassley, the chamber’s president pro tempore, said he was in quarantine after being exposed to the coronavirus and awaiting test results.

Asked what effect that could have on the vote, expected Tuesday afternoon, Senate Majority Whip 👤John Thune was equivocal. “Yeah we’ll see,” he told reporters. “With the absences now, we have some attendance issues, so it’s a little bit fluid, I’d say at the moment.”

Grassley, 87, said in a statement that he was “feeling well and not currently experiencing any symptoms” but would follow public health guidelines and would continue to work from home. Grassley is also chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida is also quarantining because of exposure to the virus.

Trump’s Republican Party has a 53-47 majority in the current Senate. Tennessee’s Lamar Alexander on Monday joined Republican colleagues Mitt Romney and Susan Collins in indicating he opposes Shelton’s confirmation, though Alexander is not in Washington this week and won’t cast a vote.

A procedural vote was expected to come on Tuesday afternoon, with a final vote on Shelton’s confirmation later in the day. Grassley’s absence could deprive Republicans of the necessary majority to muscle through Shelton’s confirmation. Senate rules do not allow for voting by proxy.