CLARITY Act Senate vote is unlikely this weekend. The U.S. Senate made no attempt to bring the bill to a floor vote on Thursday.
The chamber will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. Thursday. They will resume consideration of nominations in bloc. Roll call votes are expected but not scheduled yet.
Why CLARITY Act Senate vote is delayed
The daily schedule listed several items. It included a continuing resolution and the Protect College Sports Act. Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche was also listed.
Nevertheless, the CLARITY Act was not on the agenda. The Senate cannot start the process without a cloture petition. The late filing eliminates the possibility of a weekend vote.
The delay comes during bipartisan progress. Senator Thom Tillis told reporters about ongoing work. “We’ve got people working with the White House right now,” he said. They are “going through some of the lines right now.” This suggests the administration is reviewing ethics language.
Looking at the positive side
Senator Cynthia Lummis offered a different view. Legislators might stay in Washington after recess. “I don’t think we’ll be leaving on Friday,” she said. “I think we’ll go into the weekend.” She believes the CLARITY Act deserves a vote before the August break.
Punchbowl News reporter Brendan Pedersen also noted progress. Bipartisan talks are “very alive in the past 24 hours.” Aides are working to clear policy issues. They need enough Democratic support for cloture. The goal is 60 votes to move the bill forward.
A full Senate vote is likely after the August recess. This assumes cloture is ultimately approved. Pedersen confirmed this timeline.