White House: Ted Cruz's 'shenanigans' helped confirm nominees

The White House says “shenanigans” from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, appears to have opened up the window for a number of President Barack Obama’s nominees to be confirmed.

Press Secretary Josh Earnest also said it could be a sign that Cruz isn’t aware of how things work in the Senate.

“I do understand, based on the news reports that I’ve read, that some of the shenanigans that he carried out on the Senate floor did create an opening and additional time for these highly qualified nominees to be confirmed,” Earnest said, according to The Hill. “And if that’s the case, then it may be an indication that Senator Cruz doesn’t know much more about Senate floor procedure than I do.”

On Friday, in a move to protest Obama’s immigration action, Cruz objected to an attempt by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, to attempt an evening vote on the $1.1 trillion spending package after it passed the House.

Reid’s response was to move forward with two dozen judicial and executive nominees, starting the clock on votes that may have otherwise been abandoned during the lame-duck session.

Earnest said officials are “certainly” pleased with the outcome, that saw the confirmation of Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, along with Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken.

Cruz spokeswoman Amanda Carpenter brushed off any criticism.

“The fact that Harry Reid called up Murthy right away on Monday proves this vote was going to happen with or without Cruz’s amnesty vote,” Carpenter said.