Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) left Washington on Friday to his home state for a family funeral just as the Senate headed into an extended session during which Republicans could use his vote to amend the gargantuan $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill. “Due to the recent passing of his father-in-law, Senator Sullivan had to depart on a Friday afternoon flight to make it back to Fairbanks, Alaska in time for the funeral,” a Sullivan spokesperson told The Hill. “Senator Sullivan intended to vote against final passage of the bill and made his opposition clear in a statement on Thursday, after his vote against the motion to proceed with consideration of the bill.” During the s0-called Vote-a-Rama, any senator can propose amendments to the relief bill which can be passed with a simple majority. Sullivan’s absence means Republicans would need at least two Democrats to join them for an amendment to succeed. …