BREAKING: Using the so-called “nuclear option,” US Senate Republicans lead 51-48 vote to change the Senate rules to reduce post-cloture debate time on sub-Cabinet presidential nominations from 30 hours to 2 hours.
The effort, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, comes after Republicans failed toto change the chamber's rules so that non-Cabinet level executive and district court nominations would face only two hours of floor debate rather than 30 before a confirmation vote. That resolution received only 51 of the 60 votes required for adoption, along party lines.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said before the floor vote. “I am sorry, so sorry, my Republican colleagues have gone along with Senator McConnell's debasement of the Senate. To do this for such blatantly political ends is simply unworthy of this institution."in six years that the majority party employed the procedure to overcome minority opposition, allowing an action previously subject to a filibuster, and thus a 60-vote threshold, to pass with a simple 51-vote majority.
The move is expected to last hours process because Republicans first changed the rules once for sub-Cabinet level executive branch nominees and planned to do it a second time for district court judges. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., on Tuesday called it a “short-sighted, partisan power grab” and “an erosion of the Senate’s” advise and consent role.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mitch McConnell tells Trump the Senate will not revisit Obamacare repeal before 2020 electionsMcConnell said he spoke with the president Monday afternoon and told him the Senate would not do anything 'comprehensive' regarding health care until Republicans gained full control of Congress.
Read more »
McConnell moves to change Senate rules to speed up confirmation of Trump nomineesThe change the Senate will vote on next week would significantly cut the time allotted for floor debate on numerous non-Cabinet agency officials and dozens of district court judges.
Read more »
U.S. Senate Republican leader says closing Mexico border could be catastrophicSenate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said closing the U.S. border with Mexic...
Read more »
Perspective | The Senate is rushing to confirm this Trump nominee despite ethics concerns'The Senate is rushing to confirm this Trump nominee despite ethics concerns' via PostEverything
Read more »
Disaster aid stalls in Senate, as Trump revs up attack on Puerto RicoThe fate of a multi-billion disaster aid package remained uncertain Tuesday, as President Donald Trump‘s vocal opposition to assistance for Puerto Rico fueled a partisan clash in the Senate
Read more »
Republicans push easing U.S. Senate rules to help Trump nominationsDemocrats, who control 47 of the Senate's 100 seats, have slowed the confirmation of scores of such appointees. Historically, the Senate has provided more procedural protections for the minority party than in the House of Representatives in the hope of forcing more-reasoned legislating, and fostering
Read more »
Analysis | The Energy 202: Senate Democrat blasts ethics of Trump Interior secretary nomineeThe Energy 202: Senate Democrat blasts ethics of Trump Interior secretary nominee
Read more »
Senate Republicans trigger ‘nuclear option’ to speed Trump nomineesBREAKING: Republicans used the “nuclear option” to unilaterally change Senate rules and reduce debate time on most presidential nominees
Read more »
McConnell makes move to speed up judicial and executive branch confirmationsSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell moved to advance a resolution to change the Senate rules to speed up the confirmation process for nominees
Read more »