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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums97 senators arrive for rare joint caucus on 'nuclear option'
Nearly every senator returned to Washington Monday evening in time to attend a closed-door joint caucus to discuss filibuster rules.
Ninety-seven senators participated in the mandatory quorum call Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) requested ahead of the 6 p.m. caucus in the Old Senate Chamber.
The GOP cloak room said Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) was the only missing Republican, while Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) and Bob Menendez (N.J.) were the absent Democrats.
Reid has threatened to use the nuclear option changing the Senate rules to allow presidential nominations to proceed with a simple-majority vote instead of a 60-vote super-majority in order to thwart Republican obstruction on seven of President Obamas cabinet nominees.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told reporters heading into the joint caucus that lawmakers had agreed to the outlines of a compromise on nominees although a senior Democratic aide disputed the claim.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/311135-nearly-all-senators-return-for-joint-caucus-to-avoid-nuclear-option#ixzz2Z9t1jN9G
sadbear
(4,340 posts)Damn.
That would suck.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)Montana. I've not taken that close a look at the rest yet but I can't see any scenario wherein the Dems gain any seats in 2014.
sadbear
(4,340 posts)It's going to be close.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)Something good might actually happen tonight... fingers x'd.
leeroysphitz
(10,462 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)like the last two will entail that the Republicans can do any-fucking-thing they want.
Comon Harry, make me a liar. Plez
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)What he set out to do on getting the nominees voted on. Before Reid is caused of caving in we must understand if we lose the majority in the Senate we will need this rule in place to halt GOP trash bills.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)I think they will pick up the Senate in 2014 and basically do anything they please if you get rid of the filibuster.
Just make it a real filibuster, where they have to talk on the floor for hours.