Gsbt

By ADAM PEARCE FEB. 9, 2017 Historically, the Senate voted with little opposition to confirm a president’s first slate of cabinet nominees. As Congress has become more partisan and quicker to oppose incoming presidents, more nominees have faced contentious confirmation votes. With less than half of his cabinet in place, President Trump’s confirmed nominees have already faced an unprecedented level of opposition. Only five first-year nominees have ever received 40 or more “no” votes. Three of those nominees were under Mr. Trump. Number of “no” votes Cabinet nominees during a president’s first year in office After a 50-50 vote on Tuesday, Betsy DeVos was the first cabinet nominee ever to require a  tie-breaking confirmation vote  from a vice president. Jeff Sessions was confirmed as attorney general on Wednesday despite receiving 47 “no” votes, the third highest number among all first-year nominees. John G. Tower, President George Bush’s pick for defense secretary in 1989, is the