WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Republicans are still a few votes short of reaching the 60-vote threshold to pass their government funding bill. Some suggest the Senate should use a rare legislative procedure to bypass that 60-vote threshold to reopen the government, known as the “nuclear option”.
This legislative procedure essentially changes the rules to pass legislation with just a simple majority. However, it’s unlikely it would be used in this case because some worry if Republicans use it to pass the government funding bill, it could come back and bite them.
The 60-vote threshold has been a way for the minority party to have some sort of power and block the majority party’s agenda. In this case, the Democrats are in the minority in the Senate. A couple of members have floated the idea of getting rid of the filibuster rule to pass the Continuing Resolution but the nuclear option hasn’t been used to for legislation. It’s only been used for confirming nominees like executive and judicial nominees. Some worry if it’s used for legislation, it could be used again by the other party in retaliation when they become the majority.
Just last month, Republicans used the nuclear option to confirm several of President Trump’s nominees. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R- SD) has said previously he does not want to use the nuclear option on the government funding bill.
“Senate Majority Leader John Thune doesn’t want to do this because he knows if his party is in the minority,” said Dr. Todd Belt, professor and director of the George Washington University Political Management Program. “Which they very well might be this time next year after the election, that Democrats could railroad legislation that they want.”
Some Republicans, not many, have suggested getting rid of the filibuster so they can pass this legislation.
