The Senate Republicans used the “nuclear option” to end the filibuster on Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court. The Senate now has 30 hours to debate before the confirmation vote, which should take place on Friday at 7PM EST.
The Senate voted 55-45 to end the debate with three Democrats voting yes: Donnelly (IN), Heitkamp (ND), and Manchin (WV).
With this change, a Supreme Court nominee can receive confirmation with a simple majority instead of 60 votes.
PLEASE REMEMBER: As much as the left spins it, the nuclear option is NOT a rule change. All it does is provide a change in Senate PRECEDENT.
Also remember that former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) started this nuclear procedure in 2013 concerning lower court nominees.
12:50PM: The Senate breaks the filibuster on Gorsuch, 55-45. Three Democrats voted yes: Donnelly, Manchin, Heitkamp. This limits the debate to 30 hours. Confirmation vote will take place on Friday at 7PM EST.
12:27PM: Vote on nuclear option went down the party line 52-48. Sets new precedent. Now voting to end the debate. Just needs simple majority. If this happens the Senate can debate for 30 hours.
12:18PM: Nuclear option vote going on now. This would change the precedent and lower the bar to break filibusters for SCOTUS nominations:
12:00PM: McConnell takes the next steps for the nuclear option by raising point of order there should be simple majority to break the filibuster. Chair rules against him. Schumer asks for motion to adjourn until 5PM
11:50AM: Senate voting on Schumer’s request to move the revote to April 24 at 3PM
11:45AM: Senate needed 60 votes to end the filibuster. Only got 55 yeas.
Chad Pergram of Fox News explains the Nuclear Option:
11:35AM: Taking a vote to reconsider the cloture vote.
11:30AM: The Senate did not get 60 yeas. Now time for the nuclear option.
11:20AM: 41 no votes, which means the Democrats succeeded. The GOP will move to the nuclear option.
11AM: Senate now voting to end debate on Gorsuch.
Important to remember: These do not change the rules of the Senate:
They will be establishing a rules precedent under which the Senate will now operate. It’s a technical but important distinction. Changing the Senate rules requires a super majority while changing precedents only requires a simple majority.
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