Current Events > Senate has changed the rule to vote for nominees in blocks. Rather than 1 by 1

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-nuclear-option-change-rules-trump-nominees-rcna230565

WASHINGTON Republicans triggered the "nuclear option" to change the rules of the Senate on a party-line basis Thursday, a move that will allow them to speed up confirmation of President Donald Trump's nominees for key executive branch positions.

The vote was 53-45 to establish a new rule that allows the Senate to confirm an unlimited number of nominees en bloc, rather than process each one individually.

The rule applies to executive branch nominees subject to two hours of Senate debate, including subcabinet picks and ambassadors. It will not affect judicial nominations. Republicans say they'll allow their own senators to object to individual nominees in any given block, but the rule will strip away the power of the minority party to do the same thing.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., initiated the process by bringing up a package of 48 Trump nominees, which under longstanding rules has been subject to the 60-vote threshold. The vote to advance them failed due to Democratic opposition. Then, Thune sought to reconsider and Republicans subsequently voted to overrule the chair, setting a new precedent and establishing the new rule.

Thune had telegraphed the move for weeks, accusing Democrats of creating an "untenable situation" with historic obstruction of Trump's nominees. The vote was held up for hours on Thursday as the two parties engaged in last-ditch negotiations to strike a deal to avoid a rules change.

But they failed. And Republicans chose to proceed.

time to move. Time to quit stalling. Time to vote. Time to fix this place, Thune said in an impassioned floor speech, accusing Democrats of stalling and dragging out negotiations. This is a broken process, folks. Thats an embarrassment.

Thursday's vote sets up a fast track for confirmation of that initial bloc of 48 Trump nominees, including former Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., to be undersecretary for nuclear security, as well as Kimberly Guilfoyle and Callista Gingrich to be ambassadors to Greece and Switzerland, respectively.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said his party was reacting appropriately to Trumps historically bad nominees, a trend he predicted would worsen with the GOPs rule change.

Get ready for more horrible nominees.

Love how the right just changes the rules whenever they feel like it

They get mad when the left has their own "nuclear options" though.

yeah they're speed running this dictatorship knowing the public despises them and is eager to be rid of them next year. I honestly and starting to believe with each month that Trump's reign won't be ending without conflict, the right straight up does not want to relinquish power and not only did the public give it back to them, they gave it back to them in such a way they'll never have it like this again if they lose it, it's truly now or never for them.

While everyone is distracted. They pull this stunt

Scardude posted...

While everyone is distracted. They pull this stunt

You say that, they've been openly pulling these stunts in front of everyone and no one cares

Scardude posted...

While everyone is distracted. They pull this stunt

It makes sense for the Senate to vote on Trump nominees in bulk lots that would fill an entire dumpster.

Also nice of them to do this for the Dems next time they have the Senate.

All of this shit can only be undone VIA revolution

Takuya_Lee posted...

Also nice of them to do this for the Dems next time they have the Senate.

Every day it gets more and more difficult to believe Republicans have any intention of ever turning over any of the Federal power they have seized.

Acceleration

Takuya_Lee posted...

Also nice of them to do this for the Dems next time they have the Senate.

what will likely actually happen is they'll go "the 'Nuh-uh' rule of 1897, which we have never respected before and has never been mentioned in any congressional sessions previously, actually applies this time so we can't do anything we got elected for sorry everyone"

and there will be a great shrugging of shoulders and hem-hawing as everyone shakes hands and perhaps one of the republican ogres will screech something about liberals to finish the proceedings

What really sucks is Democrats won't take advantage of this if they are given the opertunity.

EPR-radar posted...

Every day it gets more and more difficult to believe Republicans have any intention of ever turning over any of the Federal power they have seized.

There's a solution for that, too.

creativerealms posted...

What really sucks is Democrats won't take advantage of this if they are given the opportunity.

Unfortunately, people like Taylor Lorenz will just call the Democrats out if they sink to the GOP's level.

Metal_Gear_Raxis posted...

There's a solution for that, too.

Weren't you against this in the past tho

tremain07 posted...

yeah they're speed running this dictatorship knowing the public despises them and is eager to be rid of them next year. I honestly and starting to believe with each month that Trump's reign won't be ending without conflict, the right straight up does not want to relinquish power and not only did the public give it back to them, they gave it back to them in such a way they'll never have it like this again if they lose it, it's truly now or never for them.

That was a guarantee the second he got re-elected