National Security

Senate’s nuclear option vote blows up defense policy bill

By Tim Mak

Published November 21, 2013 5:00am ET

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Senate’s nuclear option vote blows up defense policy bill — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said of theÃÂ National Defense Authorization Act:ÃÂ "This [nuclear option] blew it up.ÃÂ It harms the ability and desirability of people to work together."ÃÂ (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) | Carolyn Kaster

The Senate’s decision to invoke the “nuclear option” and limit Republican opportunities to use the filibuster had the side-effect of blowing up work on the annual Pentagon policy legislation the body was considering Thursday.

Senators debated the defense bill into the evening on Wednesday, but the work came to an abrupt halt Thursday morning when Democrats moved to change the rules of the Senate.

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Congress Defense Spending Filibuster John McCain Military Nuclear Option PennAve Pentagon Tim Mak