BUDGET/MIKE PENCE: “Vice President Mike Pence cast his ninth tie-breaking vote in the Senate on Wednesday [2-28-18] to save the confirmation of Russell Vought to be deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Vought had some controversial writings in his past related to Islam, which were brought up during his confirmation hearing.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, specifically took issue with a post Vought wrote in January 2016 about a fight at his alma mater, Wheaton College.
The Christian liberal arts college fired a political science professor named Larycia Hawkins for a Facebook post she wrote that was intended to express solidarity with Muslims… The Senate, by 50-49, Pence casting the tie-breaking vote, confirmed Vought to the position Wednesday.
Republicans control 51 seats in the chamber but two GOP senators were not present to vote: Sen. John McCain, who’s battling cancer in Arizona, and Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota.”
-Daniella Diaz and Ted Barrett, “Mike Pence casts tie-breaking vote for 9th time,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, Feb. 28, 2018 06:33pm