A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected the President’s calls for the use of the “nuclear option” to kill the filibuster and pass a budget with a simple majority Friday; saying Republican votes simply “are not there.”
“The Leader has said for years that the votes are not there in the Conference to use the nuclear option. Just this morning, several Senators put out statements confirming their opposition, and confirming that there is not a majority in the conference to go down that road,” said David Popp, McConnell’s communications director.
The statement comes just hours after President Trump urged McConnell to use the option; a procedural tool that would change Senate rules and allow the passage of the budget with a simple 51-vote majority.
Mitch, use the Nuclear Option and get it done! Our Country is counting on you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
“Mitch, use the Nuclear Option and get it done! Our Country is counting on you!” Trump tweeted.
Read the full story at the Hill.
JUST NUKE IT: Trump Tells McConnell to ‘Go Nuclear,' Pass Border Funding with Simple Majority
President Trump urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to “go nuclear” on his border wall fight Friday morning; telling the GOP lawmaker to use the procedural tool to bypass the filibuster and pass a budget with a simple 51-vote majority.
“Mitch, use the Nuclear Option and get it done! Our Country is counting on you!” posted Trump on Twitter; referencing the maneuver that would end the normally required 60-vote “supermajority.”
Mitch, use the Nuclear Option and get it done! Our Country is counting on you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
The House approved the President’s request Thursday following closed-door meetings at the White House by a 217-185 majority; sending the budget bill to the Senate with Friday’s “shutdown deadline” looming.
SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN: Trump Warns of a ‘VERY LONG’ Shutdown if Dems Block Border Wall
President Trump doubled-down on his fiery rhetoric surrounding his signature border wall Friday morning; telling Democrats they will likely face a “very long” shutdown should they refuse to fund his key campaign promise.
“The Democrats, whose votes we need in the Senate, will probably vote against Border Security and the Wall even though they know it is DESPERATELY NEEDED. If the Dems vote no, there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time. People don’t want Open Borders and Crime!” posted the president.
The Democrats, whose votes we need in the Senate, will probably vote against Border Security and the Wall even though they know it is DESPERATELY NEEDED. If the Dems vote no, there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time. People don’t want Open Borders and Crime!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi flat-out refused to fund the physical wall during her press briefing Thursday; saying the issue was a “non-starter” for congressional Democrats.