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Nothing is simple in the Senate

Political Theater, Episode 287

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in the Capitol subway on Feb. 15.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in the Capitol subway on Feb. 15. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Ah, the Senate. Anything you think should be simple never really is. Democrats there are trying to figure out what to do about the extended absence of Sen. Dianne Feinstein from committee work. But they cannot just replace her temporarily, as they sought to do this week. Why? Because the Senate is a continuing body subject to organizing resolutions that the chamber has to pass. And it is very easy to grind things to a halt in the Senate, even on something that seems routine.

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