Senate Democrats have finally changed one of its most fundamental rules by invoking the “nuclear option” for both executive branch and non-Supreme Court judicial nominations. The vote overturned the previous requirement that presidential nominees required a 60-vote requirement. Now, under the new rules a simple majority is all that is needed to approve all executive and judicial branch nominations with the exception of Supreme Court appointments.
Fifty-two Democrats voted for the measure, an unprecedented change previously threatened but not invoked until Thursday. Three Democrats — Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Mark Pryor of Arkansas — voted with Republicans against the change.
While Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., calls recent filibusters by Republicans a “troubling trend,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken., fires back, saying we learned by watching you, citing Democrat-staged filibusters during George W. Bush’s time in office.
The vote overturned an existing rule that required a 60-vote majority for the approval of presidential nominees nominees. Now, just a simple majority will be required for executive branch and judicial nominees except for Supreme Court picks.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on the Senate floor of the vote:
“It’s time to change. It’s time to change the Senate before this institution becomes obsolete.”
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