Setting another dubious precedent for mismanagement.

I do not remember Republicans boycotting committee meetings when the Democrats were in full control of Congress and the Presidency eight years ago.

//Senate Democrats have been failing to attend committee meetings (as a way to stop the confirmation of Trump Cabinet nominees). Hatch is the chair of the Finance Committee where every seat on the Democratic side was empty. Under the "extraordinary circumstances," Hatch allowed a vote to suspend the committee rules so it can get on with the confirmation of Steve Mnuchin (as Secretary of Treasury) and Tom Price (as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services).

The rules had required there to be at least one Democratic Party committee member present for a vote to take place, but, without that rule in the way, Republicans voted unanimously to put Mnuchin and Price through to the full Senate:
"They on their own accord refused to participate in the exercise," Hatch said about the Democrats on the committee. "They have nobody to blame but themselves."

Hatch said the Senate Parliamentarian had approved of the procedural maneuver, and insisted to reporters after the exercise was a "just utilization" of the rules. "This is all approved by the Parliamentarian," he said. "I wouldn't have done it if it hadn't been."...

Hatch chuckled when confronted by questions from reporters about the little notice that the public received about Wednesday's meeting. "You were scrambling? Well, you know, that's neither here nor there," he said.//