Thee was a short break in the tension on Capitol Hill on Tuesday as senators considering a cabinet nomination from President Donald Trump chatted about the Super Bowl.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee took a break as it tried to sort out a standoff over its procedures for voting on Betsy DeVos as education secretary.
Senator Al Franken, a Democrat from Minnestota, suggested a way to fill the time.
“I guess we should talk about the Super Bowl,” he said, to laughs.
Senator Johnny Isakson, Republican of Georgia, said he and Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren should place a bet on Sunday’s game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots.
“How about we put a vote for Betsy DeVos on the line,” Warren said, with Franken laughing loudly.
“That’s more than a gamble,” Isakson replied.
“How confident are you?” Warren teased.
“Like I said, that’s more than a gamble.”
The laughs soon ended, and Devos was approved on a party-line vote of 12 to 11.