President Donald Trump suggested to Senate Republicans to use the “nuclear option” to prevent Democrats from opposing the House-passed short-term spending bill that includes $5 billion in border wall funding.
Mitch, use the Nuclear Option and get it done! Our Country is counting on you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
The nuclear option Trump was referring to as a nuclear option is parliamentary procedure that allows the Senate to end the right to filibuster legislation. Democrats can use this powerful legislative device to debate and object the House-passed short-term bill for as long as they want. It requires three-fifths or 60 votes to end the filibuster.
Senate Republicans including Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah strongly rejected Trump’s nuclear option proposal.
The Senate has rules to follow
In a series of tweets, Hatch said, it is a mistake to eliminate the legislative filibuster. He also stressed that “requiring compromise is the interest of both parties in the long term.”
HATCH—>
“I’ve long said that eliminating the legislative filibuster would be a mistake. It’s what’s prevented our country for decades from sliding toward liberalism. It’s inconvenient sometimes, but requiring compromise is in the interest of both parties in the long term.”
