Senate GOP rejects second nuclear move to weaken Democrats

Senate Republicans this week scrapped a proposal to diminish the Democrats’ power to slow down President Trump’s political appointments, after two days of debating the matter.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did change Senate precedent on Thursday to allow Supreme Court picks to be advanced in a simple majority vote. As Republicans planned that move, they also considered another change, one that would shorten the amount of time that Democrats could require the Senate to debate a nominee before the final confirmation vote.