Vice Presidential Pool Reports of December 5, 2023

VPOTUS in town pool report #1 - heading to Senate for record breaking tie break vote

VPOTUS got into the motocade at 12:43 pm on West Exec to head to Capitol Hill. Arrived at 12:48 pm.

From the Vice President's office---

On Background From a White House Official:
Vice President Kamala Harris is on her way to Capitol Hill to cast a tie-breaking Senate vote to advance the nomination of Loren L. AliKhan to be a United States District Court Judge for the District of Columbia. This will be her 32nd tie-breaking vote and will officially set a new record for the most tie-breaking Senate votes cast by a Vice President in American history. The current record of 31 tie-breaking Senate votes has stood for nearly 200 years after Vice President John C. Calhoun set it in 1832.

The Vice President's tie-breaking votes have been consequential in moving the Biden-Harris agenda forward over the last three years. These tie-breaking votes have helped deliver for the American people by lowering costs for American families, creating good-paying jobs in local communities, and provide economic relief for small businesses across the country. These votes have also helped lower prescription drug costs, launch the largest investment to address the climate crisis in history, tackle the pandemic, and confirm a flurry of nominees that ensure the federal government and judiciary represents the diversity of the nation.

VPOTUS in town pool report #2 - Schumer gives Harris the "golden gavel", Harris quote on supplemental

After Vice President Kamala Harris cast her 32 tie-breaking vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Vice President walked off the Senate floor at 12:57 pm and stood in front of the wooden doors of the Vice President's ceremonial office. They spoke to a bank of reporters and cameras.

Schumer held a box in his hand and spoke first.

Schumer: "This is a historic day. Vice President Harris has cast more tiebreaking votes than anyone in America's long and storied history. She's done a great job and without her tiebreaking votes, not just today is historic, we wouldn't have the IRA, wouldn't have had the Rescue Plan. We wouldn't have had so many of the good judges and appointees we've had. No one deserves this more than she does. It is my honor to present the golden gavel to Vice President Harris on this great day. Thirty two tie breaking votes."

Schumer opened the box and took out a small gold colored gavel and handed it to Harris. Harris said "Thank you" and handed the gavel to an aide to her left.

Harris: "I'm honored. I am truly honored. And history, the history we have made all of us when I think about the tiebreaker votes honor and pride to cast, whether it be the Inflation Reduction Act and what that meant in terms of an historic investment in addressing the climate crisis, and what it has meant in terms of capping insulin at $35 a month. What it has meant supporting small businesses and small business owners. And of course today what it has meant in terms of confirming our 161st judge to the federal bench. So I am truly and honored and proud. Thank you for your leadership.

Schumer: "It's very appropriate that the Vice President cast all those votes for judges because two thirds have been people of color and two thirds have been women."

Harris interjects: "Women!"

Schumer: "We have moved the bench forward to look more like America under her many great tiebreaking votes."

As Harris started walking out, she was asked by a reporter about the supplemental funding bill. Harris: "We absolutely need to pass funding for Ukraine, funding for Israel. What we need to do around all of these issues is critically important."

Senator Laphonza Butler stopped Harris and the two spoke briefly and embraced. In the elevator bank on the ground floor, Harris stopped and spoke with Senator Tammy Duckworth and Senator John Warner. Your pooler wasn't able to hear what they said to each other.

Vice President Harris's motorcade left Capitol Hill at 1:02 pm and was back on West Exec at the White House at 1:06 pm.

VPOTUS in town pool report #2a - CORREX Warner's name - Schumer gives Harris the "golden gavel", Harris quote on supplemental

Correction, this pool report should read "Senator Mark Warner" not "John": In the elevator bank on the ground floor, Harris stopped and spoke with Senator Tammy Duckworth and Senator Mark Warner. Your pooler wasn't able to hear what they said to each other.

*******
After Vice President Kamala Harris cast her 32 tie-breaking vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Vice President walked off the Senate floor at 12:57 pm and stood in front of the wooden doors of the Vice President's ceremonial office. They spoke to a bank of reporters and cameras.

Schumer held a box in his hand and spoke first.

Schumer: "This is a historic day. Vice President Harris has cast more tiebreaking votes than anyone in America's long and storied history. She's done a great job and without her tiebreaking votes, not just today is historic, we wouldn't have the IRA, wouldn't have had the Rescue Plan. We wouldn't have had so many of the good judges and appointees we've had. No one deserves this more than she does. It is my honor to present the golden gavel to Vice President Harris on this great day. Thirty two tie breaking votes."

Schumer opened the box and took out a small gold colored gavel and handed it to Harris. Harris said "Thank you" and handed the gavel to an aide to her left.

Harris: "I'm honored. I am truly honored. And history, the history we have made all of us when I think about the tiebreaker votes honor and pride to cast, whether it be the Inflation Reduction Act and what that meant in terms of an historic investment in addressing the climate crisis, and what it has meant in terms of capping insulin at $35 a month. What it has meant supporting small businesses and small business owners. And of course today what it has meant in terms of confirming our 161st judge to the federal bench. So I am truly and honored and proud. Thank you for your leadership.

Schumer: "It's very appropriate that the Vice President cast all those votes for judges because two thirds have been people of color and two thirds have been women."

Harris interjects: "Women!"

Schumer: "We have moved the bench forward to look more like America under her many great tiebreaking votes."

As Harris started walking out, she was asked by a reporter about the supplemental funding bill. Harris: "We absolutely need to pass funding for Ukraine, funding for Israel. What we need to do around all of these issues is critically important."

Senator Laphonza Butler stopped Harris and the two spoke briefly and embraced. In the elevator bank on the ground floor, Harris stopped and spoke with Senator Tammy Duckworth and Senator Mark Warner. Your pooler wasn't able to hear what they said to each other.

Vice President Harris's motorcade left Capitol Hill at 1:02 pm and was back on West Exec at the White House at 1:06 pm.