McConnell: GOP lacks sufficient support to change Senate filibuster rule
WASHINGTON – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said there is not sufficient support among his fellow Republicans to change the upper chamber’s filibuster rule.
“The votes are simply not there,” McConnell said in response to a question at a news conference on Tuesday.
Last weekend President Donald Trump unleashed a series of Tweets demanding that McConnell propose lowering the filibuster threshold so as to rehabilitate the failed health care bill.
The Health Care Freedom Act was defeated early Friday morning when three Republicans joined the Senate’s 46 Democrats and two independent members in opposing the legislation. That vote commenced just three days after Senate Republicans with assistance from Vice President Mike Pence acquired enough votes to begin debate on the measure.
Senate Republicans had hoped that using the budget reconciliation process would guarantee passage of the legislation. Reconciliation allows filibusters to be broken with 51 votes as opposed to 60.
Though Republicans occupy 52 seats, they were able to garner only 49 yes votes on the health care bill.
Changing the filibuster rule would require 51 votes.
McConnell said he has told Trump on several occasions that changing the filibuster rule is not possible. McConnell refused further comment when asked whether he believes the president will accept that premise.
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) announced Tuesday that he, along with ranking member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), will hold hearings on health care reform proposals following the upper chamber’s three-week recess, which begins Aug. 11.
This article is republished with permission from Talk Media News
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