US Vice President Kamala Harris has made history once again by matching the record for the most tiebreaking votes in the US Senate. Harris, who became the first woman or person of color to serve as vice president, cast her 31st tiebreaking vote in support of the nomination of Kalpana Kotagal to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This ties her with former vice president John C. Calhoun, who served from 1825 to 1832.
What sets Harris apart is the short time it took for her to reach this milestone. While Calhoun accumulated his 31 tiebreaking votes over eight years, Harris achieved the same number in just two and a half years. This reflects the current political climate in the United States, with a deeply divided Senate and a highly polarized atmosphere that necessitates the vice president’s involvement in breaking ties.
Under the US Constitution, presiding over the Senate and breaking ties is one of the few constitutional duties of the vice president. Harris expected to have a reprieve from this role after the midterm elections, when Democrats expanded their majority to 51 votes. However, circumstances intervened as two Democratic senators, John Fetterman and Dianne Feinstein, experienced health issues and were unable to attend Senate sessions. Consequently, Harris continued to cast tiebreaking votes on contested nominations.
While Harris may not have sought to make history with tiebreaker votes, it has become a significant part of her vice presidential responsibilities. This has allowed her to play a crucial role in important decisions, such as voting in favor of the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, and the Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to limit prescription drug costs and promote clean energy.
Joel K. Goldstein, a vice presidential historian, believes the tiebreaking votes are a blessing for Harris as they associate her with the important accomplishments of the Biden administration. However, the task can also be challenging, requiring Harris to be present in the Senate and limiting her travel while remaining prepared for unpredictable events.
Ultimately, Harris’s record-breaking tiebreaking votes highlight the unique circumstances of the current political climate in the United States. Her role as vice president has allowed her to make critical decisions and be an important figure in shaping the Biden administration’s agenda and accomplishments.
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