Yesterday afternoon the Senate voted 50 – 49 to invoke cloture and proceed to debate and a final vote on the nomination of Kathy Kraninger to be the next Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (“BCFP”).  The vote was along strict party lines, with Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) not voting.  The Senate could begin debate on Kraninger’s nomination as early as Monday.  If all 50 senators who voted affirmatively today do so again for the full Senate vote, Kraninger’s confirmation is assured.  Once confirmed by the Senate, Kraninger will serve a 5-year term as the Director of the BCFP.