President Trump is urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to use the so-called “nuclear option” in order to pass the House spending bill approved last night that provides $5.7 billion for the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and avoids a government shutdown.
In a tweet this morning, the president wrote, “Mitch, use the Nuclear Option and get it done! Our Country is counting on you!”
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” would require a Senate rule change which would allow a simple majority of 51 votes to advance legislation, instead of the usual 60-vote threshold.
Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) floated the idea of using the nuclear option yesterday, writing, “House just passed a bill that fully funds government and enables @realDonaldTrump to secure our border/build the wall. Senate can do same by eliminating the filibuster. 51 votes, same as we do for judges!”
House just passed a bill that fully funds government and enables @realDonaldTrump to secure our border/build the wall. Senate can do same by eliminating the filibuster. 51 votes, same as we do for judges!
— Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) December 21, 2018
However, Fox News reporter Chad Pergram says enacting the nuclear option could “backfire royally” on Republicans today because they may “have an attendance problem in the Senate today.”
McConnell has repeatedly said that he would not initiate the nuclear option to establish a new precedent & lower the bar to end filibusters on legislation. And it could backfire royally on Republicans..especially today. They could have an attendance problem in the Senate today
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 21, 2018
The president also praised House Republicans for their last-minute scrambling to get a stopgap government funding bill passed yesterday that included billions of dollars to fund President Trump’s border wall. The vote passed the House 217-185.
“No matter what happens today in the Senate, Republican House Members should be very proud of themselves. They flew back to Washington from all parts of the World in order to vote for Border Security and the Wall. Not one Democrat voted yes, and we won big. I am very proud of you,” he wrote.
No matter what happens today in the Senate, Republican House Members should be very proud of themselves. They flew back to Washington from all parts of the World in order to vote for Border Security and the Wall. Not one Democrat voted yes, and we won big. I am very proud of you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
