President Trump on Friday urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to pass the new spending bill by any means necessary — including using the “nuclear option” to undercut Democrats’ power to use the filibuster.
Mitch, use the Nuclear Option and get it done! Our Country is counting on you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
He was cheering on a suggestion by Sen. Steve Daines, who on Thursday had suggested using the shortcut tactic to change Senate precedent and reduce the number of votes needed to head off a filibuster on legislation to a majority, rather than the 60 votes usually needed.
They are desperately seeking ways to pass a spending bill that includes money for Mr. Trump’s border wall.
But others pointed out that changing the filibuster wouldn’t matter because the wall-funding bill still violates budget rules, and waiving those also takes a three-fifths vote, or 60 senators. That’s the same as the filibuster. Those budget rules are written into law, so no nuclear option could change that.
Some Republican senators also made clear they wouldn’t join any nuclear option attempt.
Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona said it would “blow up” any chance at cooperation between the parties.
Tennessee’s Sen. Alexander Lamar said the filibuster rule has served Republican interests several times when they were in the minority, and argued it was important to protect the party not in power.
“I want to put a stop to this practice of the Senate breaking its rules to change its rules,” he said in a statement. “I will not vote to turn the Senate into a rule-breaking institution and I hope that my colleagues will not.”
On Thursday, Mr. Trump derailed the spending bill that was passed by the Senate Wednesday night when he announced he’d only sign a bill with additional funds for border security.
House Republicans passed their own bill with $5.7 billion border security Thursday night that now heads to the Senate, where the chances of passing are slim.
If neither the House nor Senate spending bills are passed Friday, a partial government shutdown will begin at midnight.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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