Republicans plan to begin the process today of using their so-called "nuclear option" (so called by both sides because it has the potential to wreak havoc in the Senate and even further intensify partisan discord) to end the Democratic filibusters of judicial nominees by changing Senate rules governing how many votes are required to break such blockades. Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Republican, plans to introduce the rules change today, according to two Senate aides involved in the Republican planning.
A nuclear option which will wreak havoc and intensify partisan discord ... Gads, I hope none of the poor widdie Senators get a case of the vapors over it
| Yasss... We've gone this long without havoc and partisan discord. Why introduce it now? |
Currently, 60 votes are required to break a filibuster. The resolution, co-sponsored by several senators, will require 60 votes only in the first attempt at invoking cloture. In each attempt after that, the vote requirement will drop by three until it reaches a simple majority of 51 votes. This rule change will apply only to executive nominations, not legislative business. Republicans hope the plan will be greeted favorably by some Democrats and thus increase their chances of getting it passed. The idea was first floated by Sen. Zell Miller, Georgia Democrat, in an Op-Ed piece in the Wall Street Journal several months ago. Mr. Miller has consistently voted with Republicans to end the filibusters. In 1995, a similar plan was introduced by Democratic Sens. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Tom Harkin of Iowa. |