Thune starts Senate rule change to fast-track Trump nominees
The article reports that Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune, have initiated the “nuclear option” to change Senate rules to fast-track the confirmation of dozens of President Donald Trump’s pending sub-Cabinet nominees. Although such nominees already require only a simple majority for confirmation, the current process demands individual votes that have been slowed down by Democratic opposition, causing significant delays.The proposed rule change would allow these nominees to be confirmed en bloc, streamlining the process, though judicial nominees would still require individual approval.
Democrats oppose this move, arguing it undermines Senate traditions and oversight, especially given concerns about some nominees’ qualifications. Senate Minority Leader chuck Schumer criticized the GOP for perhaps eroding precedent and bypassing proper scrutiny. Negotiations between the parties have broken down,and Republicans plan to push the rule changes through party-line votes,with a final decision expected soon.The Republicans view the opposition as a prolonged political obstruction stemming from democrats’ refusal to except Trump’s election.
Thune launches ‘nuclear’ Senate rules change to fast-track Trump nominees
Senate Republicans took the first step on Monday to invoke the so-called “nuclear” option to change chamber rules and allow dozens of President Donald Trump’s pending nominees to be swiftly confirmed en bloc.
Although nominees are already approved with a simple majority and are not subject to the 60-vote filibuster, they require individual and time-consuming votes due to Democratic opposition. Each can often take days to confirm, an arduous process Republicans say requires an overhaul in the face of “unprecedented” roadblocks from Democrats.
“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,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said of Democrats. “Democrats can’t stand the fact that President Trump was elected.”
Thune took the first procedural step Monday evening. Following a series of votes in the coming days, it will allow leadership by next week to combine multiple sub-Cabinet nominees into a singular streamlined process so GOP senators can confirm Trump’s picks en masse. Judicial nominees are not subject to the change and will still require individual approval.
Democrats, presenting unified opposition to the rules change, say it marks the latest precedent-setting move to erode chamber tradition and that Democrats have refused to fast-track confirmations through traditional unanimous consent agreements because of unqualified nominees.
In recent decades, 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.
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“Historically bad nominees deserve a historical response,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. “[Republicans] are ready to detonate Senate precedent altogether and go nuclear on all the nominees. So much for oversight.”
Negotiations over the potential rule changes between the two sides appeared to break down entirely in recent days after weeks of GOP leaders mulling over proposed alterations. Republicans announced they would use their control to make desired changes on what is likely to be a series of party-line votes before the effort is ultimately approved next week.
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