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NEW DELHI: Vice-President Kamala Harris made history again on Wednesday when she cast her 31st tiebreaking vote in the US Senate, tying the record set by John C Calhoun. Harris already holds the distinction of being the first woman/person of colour to serve as the US vice-president.
The tiebreaking vote, which advanced the nomination of Kalpana Kotagal to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, came just two and a half years after Harris became the vice-president. This is significantly faster than Calhoun, who took eight years to cast 31 tiebreaking votes.
According to Article I, Section 3, Clause 4 of the US Constitution, the vice-president also serves as the president of the Senate. In this capacity, he or she may cast the deciding vote when there is a tie in the Senate.
Harris’s predecessor Mike Pence cast a total of 13 tiebreaking votes during his tenure. Interestingly, current US President Joe Biden, who served as a vice-president during the Barack Obama’s presidency, did not cast a single tiebreaking vote.
“It is a moment and I think that there’s still so much left that we have yet to do,” Harris told reporters. “My mother gave me great advice, which is that I may be the first to do many things,” she added. “I’m going to make sure I’m not the last.”
Harris has cast tiebreaking votes on a variety of issues, including the American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the confirmation of two federal judges.
While Harris did not initially expect to make history with tiebreaking votes, she has embraced the role. She has said that she is proud to be associated with some of the Biden administration’s important accomplishments.
The task of casting tiebreaking votes can be frustrating at times, but it has also given Harris a unique opportunity to shape the direction of the country.
(With inputs from agencies)
The tiebreaking vote, which advanced the nomination of Kalpana Kotagal to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, came just two and a half years after Harris became the vice-president. This is significantly faster than Calhoun, who took eight years to cast 31 tiebreaking votes.
According to Article I, Section 3, Clause 4 of the US Constitution, the vice-president also serves as the president of the Senate. In this capacity, he or she may cast the deciding vote when there is a tie in the Senate.
Harris’s predecessor Mike Pence cast a total of 13 tiebreaking votes during his tenure. Interestingly, current US President Joe Biden, who served as a vice-president during the Barack Obama’s presidency, did not cast a single tiebreaking vote.
“It is a moment and I think that there’s still so much left that we have yet to do,” Harris told reporters. “My mother gave me great advice, which is that I may be the first to do many things,” she added. “I’m going to make sure I’m not the last.”
Harris has cast tiebreaking votes on a variety of issues, including the American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the confirmation of two federal judges.
While Harris did not initially expect to make history with tiebreaking votes, she has embraced the role. She has said that she is proud to be associated with some of the Biden administration’s important accomplishments.
The task of casting tiebreaking votes can be frustrating at times, but it has also given Harris a unique opportunity to shape the direction of the country.
(With inputs from agencies)
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