In the aftermath of failing to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Senate Republicans have found themselves to be the latest subjects of President Donald Trump’s tirades on Twitter, as he called for the abolishment of the filibuster.
“Republican Senate must get rid of 60 vote NOW! It is killing the R Party, allows 8 Dems to control country. 200 Bills sit in Senate. A JOKE!” the president tweeted early on Saturday morning. In what appeared as more of demands than suggestions, Trump made it quite clear that he wanted the Senate to get rid of the “outdated” rule that requires 60 in order to overrule a filibuster.
According to CNN, the “current Senate rules mandate that 60 senators — three-fifths of the 100-member Senate — must agree in order to end debate and move forward to a vote on a measure or piece of legislation — a process known as invoking cloture.”
CNN elaborated:
While the Senate has invoked the so-called “nuclear option” in the past to get certain nominations — most recently of note Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch — through the chamber by a simple majority vote, there is currently no method for doing so with legislation.
The president also singled out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell R-Ky., and said he must make the change in order to further his agenda.
The very outdated filibuster rule must go. Budget reconciliation is killing R's in Senate. Mitch M, go to 51 Votes NOW and WIN. IT'S TIME!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2017
Trump continued to blast the Senate Republicans and said that they will “NEVER win if they don’t go to a 51 vote majority NOW. They look like fools and are just wasting time.”
Republicans in the Senate will NEVER win if they don't go to a 51 vote majority NOW. They look like fools and are just wasting time……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2017
The president seethed after the “skinny repeal” of Obamacare failed in the Senate late Thursday night because of opposing votes from Sens. Lisa Murkowksi R-Alaska, Susan Collins R-Maine and John McCain R-Ariz. On Friday morning Trump tweeted that the three senators, along with the 48 opposing Democrats, had “let the American people down.” Trump has since tweeted numerous times about his disdain for the filibuster rule.
3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down. As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2017
He ended his rant by saying that, if given the opportunity, Senate Democrats “would switch to a 51 majority vote in first minute. They are laughing at R’s. MAKE CHANGE!”
If the Senate Democrats ever got the chance, they would switch to a 51 majority vote in first minute. They are laughing at R's. MAKE CHANGE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2017
As the focus will begin to shift from health care to tax reform it’s unclear when, or if, Trump and Senate Republicans will be able to muster up a much needed legislative win.
