Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the brainchild of the Biden-era proposal, has been repeatedly invoked by Republicans as evidence that their endeavor should garner cooperation from Democrats.

Klobuchar defended her past approach as nonpartisan on a proposal that never came to fruition because of a lack of GOP support and an unwillingness by Democrats to alter rules along party lines with the so-called “nuclear option.” She argued that circumstances are now drastically different and suggested Democrats need to oppose Trump at every turn for what they see as flouting laws since retaking office.  

“That was legislation that we were not able to pass because we didn’t have Republican votes. So, it wasn’t meant to be a partisan proposal,” Klobuchar told the Washington Examiner. “And then secondly, we’re living at a time where the president is basically not following the law.”

Democrats believe that the Republican proposal, which applies to sub-Cabinet-level Executive Branch nominations and excludes lifetime judicial appointments and Supreme Court justices, further erodes Senate norms by invoking the nuclear option. For more than a decade, both parties have slowly weakened the minority’s power in the Senate and invoked the nuclear option to force changes in the confirmation process using only a simple majority.

“Trump has made a mockery of the nominations process. He lacks any sense of principle. He doesn’t care if the people he picks are qualified, if they’re liars, if they’re corrupt,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. “If [Republicans] go nuclear, it’s going to be a decision you will come to regret.”

Preventing the rules change appears inevitable, a last resort Republicans say they were forced to take in the face of “unprecedented” resistance from Democrats. Democrats have not allowed any nominees in Trump’s second term to be confirmed via unanimous consent without a roll call vote, a break from decades of precedent for how the majority of nominees under presidents of both parties have typically been approved.

The alteration only needs a simple majority, which means Republicans have a three-vote buffer. But the cushion may be needed.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who is not seeking reelection next year, suggested he was on the fence about the proposal and expressed hope for an 11th-hour bipartisan agreement to avoid the nuclear route.

“[Republicans] are still talking with the Democrats,” Tillis told the Washington Examiner when asked about his position. “I hope they can sort something out.”

What bipartisan talks might have existed appear to have entirely deteriorated. Leaders from both parties have exchanged partisan jabs in statements, comments to reporters, and floor speeches.

THUNE LAUNCHES ‘NUCLEAR’ SENATE RULES CHANGE TO FAST-TRACK TRUMP NOMINEES

On the floor, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) rattled off Biden-era quotes from Schumer criticizing GOP opposition to nominees and condemning Democrats’ handling of nominees that have received bipartisan backing.

“This isn’t about the quality of the candidates or any other substantial issue. This is simply the world’s longest, most drawn-out temper tantrum over losing an election,” Thune said. “[Democrats] destroyed decades upon decades of Senate precedent and turned a historically bipartisan process into an exercise in petty partisanship.”

David Sivak contributed to this report.