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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.”

— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) December 21, 2018

Hatch in 2017: “without the filibuster this country would've been gone a long time ago.”https://t.co/Akpu1NA2Ex

— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) December 21, 2018

Hatch in 2016: “I’m one of the biggest advocates for the filibuster. It’s the only way to protect the minority, and we’ve been in the minority a lot more than we’ve been in the majority. It’s just a great, great protection for the minority.” https://t.co/uTm1gPPFej

— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) December 21, 2018

On the other hand, Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee released a statement rejecting Trump's proposal to nix the legislative filibuster. According to him, The legislative filibuster—the requirement that it takes 60 votes to pass major legislation—protects the minority, and for most of the last 70 years, conservatives and Republicans have been in the minority. Since World War II, Democrats have controlled the Presidency and both houses of Congress for 22 years; Republicans have had such complete control for only 8 years."

He added, "We are a nation that prizes the rule of law...‘A senate majority that can change the rules anytime it wishes, is a Senate without any rules...We have rules to follow.  I want to put a stop to this practice of the Senate breaking its rules to change its rules. I will not vote to turn the Senate into a rule-breaking institution and I hope that my colleagues will not."

Retiring Senators Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee tweeted that they will not support ending the right filibuster legislation.

The Senate filibuster is about the only mechanism left in Washington that brings the parties together. Deploying the nuclear option would blow that up. I will not vote to do it. https://t.co/XDL19fuSMP

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) December 21, 2018

While rules changes may be in order at some point, I will continue to follow rules relative to legislation as they exist today as I finish my term.

— Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) December 21, 2018

Schumer says Trump temper tantrum will not get him a wall

Earlier on Friday, the president warned of government “shutdown” if Democrats vote against the $5 billion funding for the border wall.

On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized that the House resolution will not pass the Senate. He added, “The Trump temper tantrum may produce a government shutdown; it will not get him the wall.”

In his remarks on the Senate Floor on Friday, Schumer said Trump must take the blame for the shutdown.

"You cannot erase months of video of you saying that you wanted a shutdown and that you wanted the responsibility and blame for a shutdown. President Trump, you own the shutdown," said Schumer.