senator ted cruz. it s absurd to hear republicans say the biden administration is giving putin a gift after four years of trump s refusal to criticize putin on anything. it s part of a pattern. rick scott, republican senator, who also voted against certifying biden s win was so concerned about illegal border crossings he threatened to put a hold three department homeland nominees this spring. people who could have been helping to solve the problem sooner they gotten faster senate approval. the system wasn t made for these hyperpartisan times. they re unwieldly 1,200 plus senate confirmed positions that need to be filled by incoming administration. that s increase of 59% since 1960. according to the partnership for public service. now they re tracking 801 of those positions. to date the biden administration has seen 130 of these confirmed by the senate. while 218 are sitting in limbo