Sen. Tommy Tuberville: White House ‘would rather burn down the Senate than negotiate’

Sen. Tommy Tuberville slammed the White House Sunday, saying the administration would rather “burn the Senate down” than negotiate on his block on military nominees.

“It’s typical of this place. This administration would rather burn the Senate down, and that’s what would happen … If you change the rules of the Senate, then it lasts forever,” Mr. Tuberville said on CNN’s “Inside Politics.” So they would rather burn down the Senate than negotiate.”

His comment comes as Senate Democrats are looking at a plan that would temporarily change the rules to allow them to approve hundreds of military promotions together instead of individually.

“If they go around and, without negotiating, change the rules of the Senate, it just goes to show you they want it their way or the highway,” the Alabama Republican said.

Mr. Tuberville has been under fire for his block on military promotions over his opposition to the Pentagon’s abortion travel policy. The Department of Defense reimburses costs for military members who travel to receive reproductive care. He has blocked hundreds of confirmation votes since February.

A senator can place a hold on legislation, such as military nominations and promotions. Democrats could approve the nominations one by one, but they have argued that would take up too much time.

Lawmakers and military officials have called on Mr. Tuberville to lift his hold. In September, three top military officials wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post, calling the hold “unprecendented” and “unfair.”

“Placing a blanket hold on all general and flag officer nominees, who as apolitical officials have traditionally been exempt from the hold process, is unfair to these military leaders and their families,” the three wrote. “And it is putting our national security at risk.”

Rep. Michael McCaul, Texas Republican, said in September that Mr. Tuberville’s hold is “paralyzing the Department of Defense.”

“This is paralyzing the Department of Defense, the idea that one man in the Senate can hold this up for months,” said Mr. McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “… I think that is a national security problem and a national security issue. I really wish he would reconsider this.”

Mr. Tuberville said members of the military have told him that his hold does not impact their readiness.

“If I thought this was happening, I wouldn’t be doing this. And I’ve told you that all along. And the people that I trust tell me that it’s not,” he told CNN.

He also said he has not had any talks with the White House about a possible resolution.

“No conversation. Nobody wants to negotiate. You know, this is not a negotiation crowd over in the White House,” he said.