Latest news with #SenateRules
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thune's bid to change rules for nominees faces GOP opposition
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) faces a difficult test in rallying GOP colleagues to change the Senate's rules to speed up the confirmation of approximately 140 Trump nominees. Changing the Senate's procedural rules with a simple-majority vote is sometimes called the 'nuclear option' because it's viewed as an extreme tactic. In this case, many Republicans are ready to go 'nuclear' because they think Democrats are unfairly holding up a number of lower-level, noncontroversial nominees. Democrats have refused to confirm a single civilian Trump appointee by voice vote or unanimous consent during his first six-and-a-half months in office. But Thune still needs to sell a handful of members on the change, including Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), who aren't yet on board with a proposal to weaken individual senators' ability to hold up nominees. A senior Senate Republican strategist said senators are going to be reluctant to give up their power to place holds on executive branch nominees, a power that GOP senators employed to gain leverage over the Biden administration. 'There's a core group of people that are wary of setting new precedents or changing anything that's going to affect them when the shoe's on the other foot. I don't think it's a slam dunk,' the strategist said of Republican senators who are worried about diminishing their own authority if they return to minority-party status. 'Anytime you make these changes, it can have lasting impact on how the Senate operates moving forward,' the source added. Then-Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) placed a hold on all of former President Biden's Justice Department nominees in 2023 to protest the Biden administration's indictment of President Trump on criminal charges. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R) put a sweeping hold on all of Biden's military promotions to protest the use of taxpayer dollars at the Defense Department to pay for service members' travel across state lines to receive medical services, including abortion services. Thune can only afford three defections from within his conference. Tillis last week ruled out going 'nuclear' over the stalled nominees. 'I just generally don't go nuclear,' he said. 'We can do the work. We've come up with some bipartisan strategies for changing the rules,' he added, arguing Republicans and Democrats could work together to make the Senate more efficient at confirming nominees without trampling on the rights of the minority party. 'If we do this, then that means the new bar for rules is a simple majority,' he said of the prospect of Senate Republicans changing the rules with 51 votes instead of the 67 votes required under regular order to change the chamber's rules. Tillis also poured cold water on the idea of allowing Trump to make recess appointments, something Senate conservatives have floated as an option to clear the backlog of stalled nominees. Tillis, who opposed Ed Martin, Trump's initial nominee to serve as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said he would want to put guardrails on recent appointments. Asked whether he could support opening the door to recess appointments, Tillis replied: 'Not if it lays the groundwork for an Ed Martin.' Republican senators left town pledging to take up rules reform when they return to Washington after Labor Day. 'We're trying to break the logjam,' Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) said on Fox News's 'Sunday Morning Futures' with Maria Bartiromo. 'We put them on notice and said, 'We're not going to play games with you anymore. Now you're forcing us to change Senate rules,'' said Mullin, a deputy Senate GOP whip. 'So, soon as we get back from August, we're going to be working on rules change. When we get back, we're going to have to implement that rules change.' Thune and his leadership team will need to focus on Tillis, Collins and Murkowski, along with other potential wild cards such as former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.). McConnell earlier this year voted against some of Trump's controversial nominees, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Collins told reporters she wants to review precisely what rule changes the Senate GOP leadership team has in mind. 'We clearly have a huge problem with bipartisan nominees requiring roll call votes, but I want to see what the exact proposals are,' she said. Murkowski has favored preserving senators' rights and prerogatives from the ever-expanding powers of the White House and executive branch. The Alaska senator has voiced her frustration about spending hours of Senate floor time churning through lower-level nominees. But she's drawn a line at allowing Trump to make recess appointments. 'No, we do our job here. We've got plenty of time to address it, we're working through it,' she said of the backlog of Trump nominees. Asked about changing the Senate rules with a simple-majority vote, Murkowski expressed her desire to instead find a bipartisan solution that would not blow up relations with Democrats. 'There's a good conversation that's going on, it's actually a bipartisan conversation, about how we can be more efficient,' she said. 'We just voted on the general counsel … of the Department of [Agriculture]. There's a better way to do this.' Murkowski, a senior appropriator, wants to work with Democrats to pass the regular spending bills for fiscal 2026, bills that need 60 votes to pass on the Senate floor. Triggering the nuclear option to fast-track lower-level, noncontroversial nominees would likely scuttle the chances of reaching a bipartisan spending deal before the Sept. 30 deadline. A Senate Republican aide said GOP senators are still in the discussion phase of a potential rules change. 'No one's presented a clear option. Right now, they're still discussing a suite of options,' the source said. GOP senators have discussed a rules change that would allow Thune to advance lower-level nominees in groups, perhaps in blocs of three or five or more. Another option would be to eliminate the time-consuming cloture vote, which takes place to limit debate before proceeding to a final confirmation vote. A third option would be to collapse the mandatory two hours of debate time that must take place between the procedural vote to invoke cloture and the final confirmation vote. That could save two hours of floor time per district court-level and sub-Cabinet-level nominees. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
03-08-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Irate Trump tells Schumer to ‘go to hell' after Senate standoff over confirmations
The US Senate left Washington DC on Saturday night for its monthlong August recess without a deal to advance dozens of Donald Trump's nominees, calling it quits after days of contentious bipartisan negotiations and the president taking to social media to tell Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to 'GO TO HELL!' Without a deal in hand, Republicans say they may try to change Senate rules when they return in September to speed up the pace of confirmations. Trump has been pressuring senators to move quickly as Democrats blocked more nominees than usual this year, denying any fast unanimous consent votes and forcing roll calls on each one, a lengthy process that can take several days per nominee. 'I think they're desperately in need of change,' Senate Republican majority leader John Thune said of the chamber's rules Saturday after negotiations with Schumer and Trump broke down. 'I think that the last six months have demonstrated that this process, nominations is broken. And so I expect there will be some good robust conversations about that.' Schumer said a rules change would be a 'huge mistake', especially as Senate Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass spending bills and other legislation moving forward. 'Donald Trump tried to bully us, go around us, threaten us, call us names, but he got nothing,' Schumer said. The latest standoff comes as Democrats and Republicans have gradually escalated their obstruction of the other party's executive branch and judicial nominees over the last two decades, and as Senate leaders have incrementally changed Senate rules to speed up confirmations – and make them less bipartisan. In 2013, Democrats changed Senate rules for lower court judicial nominees to remove the 60-vote threshold for confirmations as Republicans blocked then-president Barack Obama's judicial picks. In 2017, Republicans did the same for supreme court nominees as Democrats tried to block Trump's nomination of justice Neil Gorsuch. Trump has been pressuring Senate Republicans for weeks to cancel the August recess and grind through dozens of his nominations as Democrats have slowed the process. But Republicans hoped to make a deal with Democrats instead and came close several times over the last few days as the two parties and the White House negotiated over moving a large tranche of nominees in exchange for reversing some of the Trump administration's spending cuts on foreign aid, among other issues. The Senate held a rare weekend session on Saturday as Republicans held votes on nominee after nominee and as the two parties tried to work out the final details of a deal. But it was clear that there would be no agreement when Trump attacked Schumer on social media Saturday evening and told Republicans to pack it up and go home. 'Tell Schumer, who is under tremendous political pressure from within his own party, the Radical Left Lunatics, to GO TO HELL!' Trump posted on Truth Social. Thune said afterward that there were 'several different times' when the two sides thought they had a deal, but in the end 'we didn't close it out'. It's the first time in recent history that the minority party hasn't allowed at least some quick confirmations. Thune has already kept the Senate in session for more days, and with longer hours, this year to try and confirm as many of Trump's nominees as possible. But Democrats had little desire to give in without the spending cut reversals or some other incentive, even though they too were eager to skip town after several long months of work and bitter partisan fights over legislation. 'We have never seen nominees as flawed, as compromised, as unqualified as we have right now,' Schumer said.
GMA Network
12-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Philconsa: Return order for Sara impeach case raises constitutional concerns
The Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) has called out the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, for returning the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte back to the House of Representatives. In a statement, Philconsa chairperson and former Supreme Court chief justice Reynato Puno said the impeachment court's move raises constitutional concerns. 'This action raises grave constitutional questions and challenges the integrity of the impeachment process. PhilConsa warns that it may constitute grave abuse of discretion and risks undermining the most fundamental principle of our constitutional democracy: that Public Office is a Public Trust,' he said. 'The Accountability of Public Officials cannot be overstressed — and must never be evaded through procedural artifice,' he added. Puno said the constitutional concerns from court's order are the following: Grave Abuse of Discretion — Whether the Senate unlawfully suspended its jurisdiction already validly acquired as an Impeachment Court. Encroachment on the House's Exclusive Power — Whether requiring the House to certify compliance with the one-year ban infringes upon the House's sole prerogative under Article XI, Section 3 of the Constitution. Circumlocutory Delay — Whether imposing novel requirements not found in the Constitution or Senate Rules constitutes a circumlocutory device designed to delay or defeat the trial. Due Process and Impartiality — Whether raising possible defenses on behalf of the Respondent compromises the impartiality of the Senate as an Impeachment Court. Fundamental Question of Law — Is the mere lack of certification from the House of Representatives sufficient to justify remand of the case and suspension of trial? PhilConsa submits that no such requirement exists under the Constitution or established impeachment practice. To create such a requirement ex post facto undermines both the separation of powers and the rule of law. Puno pointed out that the Senate cannot lose or suspend its jurisdiction as an impeachment court by mere procedural acts. 'As the Supreme Court held: 'Jurisdiction, once validly acquired, is not lost by subsequent happenings. It continues until the case is finally resolved or dismissed (Republic v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 115748, Feb. 3, 1997),' Puno said. 'This principle of continuing jurisdiction applies with full force to the Impeachment Court — a doctrine reinforced by established practice, including the Clinton Impeachment trial before the US Senate, whose model our own impeachment process follows,' he added. Puno said that impeachment, as the people's mechanism to enforce accountability of public officials, must not be thwarted by 'procedural invention' or 'partisan maneuver.' 'PhilConsa calls upon the Senate to uphold its constitutional duty and proceed with the impeachment trial in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law. Any act or device that circumvents this duty gravely imperils our democratic institutions,' Puno said. 'The Filipino people are watching. The Constitution commands it,' he added. On Tuesday evening, the Senate as an impeachment court voted to return to the House of Representatives the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte without dismissing or terminating them. The motion was approved with 18 affirmative, five negative votes, and zero abstentions. Duterte was impeached by the House on February 5 with more than 200 congressmen endorsing the verified complaint against her. The Vice President stands accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. Duterte has denied the allegations. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MN GOP files ethics complaint against DFL Senate President Bobby Joe Champion
The Brief An ethics complaint accuses the Minnesota Senate President of violating Senate rules. The Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct is asked to investigate Sen. Champion's affiliation with 21 Days of Peace and legislation he authored that directed money to the organization. Sen. Champion said he "voluntarily sought an advisory committee" for the same facts before they were brought forward by GOP lawmakers. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion (DFL- Minneapolis) is facing an ethics complaint from GOP lawmakers who accuse him of violating Senate rules by authoring legislation that directed funds to an organization he is affiliated with. GOP lawmakers announced the complaint filing on Friday morning. Sen. Champion points out that he notified the Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct on Monday of the same questions highlighted in the complaint. The Minnesota Legislature is on a scheduled recess from noon on Friday, April 11, through noon on Monday, April 21, to commemorate Easter and Passover. What they're saying The ethics complaint accuses Sen. Champion of violating Senate Rules 56.1 and 56.3 for allegedly "sponsoring legislation appropriating money to a legal client without disclosing the client relationship," adding that "Senator Champion authored legislation in 2023 and 2025 directing money to this client, including legislation that was signed into law in 2023 and sent $3 million to a client." That client, Rev. Jerry McAfee, runs the violence prevention organization 21 Days of Peace. READ MORE: New concerns over Minneapolis violence prevention funding decisions The complaint states that Sen. Champion represented Rev. McAfee, and his nonprofit, Salem Inc., in several financial disputes. The complaint then references news articles where Sen. Champion acknowledged the legal work but did not disclose it because it concluded before the start of the legislative session and no money was exchanged for the pro-bono service. The complaint points out that Sen. Champion's ability to testify before the Minnesota Senate in an "honest and unbiased or neutral manner before the Minnesota Senate" because of legal obligations owed to his client. GOP legislators conclude that "The failure to disclose his personal relationships with Rev. Jerry McAfee and Salem, Inc. violated Senate Rules by falling short of the highest ethical standards, betraying the public trust, and giving the appearance that his independence of judgment was impaired by his legal relationship with Rev. McAfee and Salem, Inc." READ MORE: Minneapolis violence prevention workers charged after one of them was shot The full ethics complaint can be viewed below: Click to open this PDF in a new window. The other side Sen. Champion shared the following written statement to FOX 9 on Friday morning in response to the GOP filing: "I am aware that the Republicans have filed an ethics complaint based upon the same facts for which I voluntarily sought an advisory committee from the Senate Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct. "To allow this process to move forward, I've also asked to temporarily step aside from my role as chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee until this situation is resolved.I was not paid for the legal work in question, and have a practice of not charging churches that ask me for legal support or advice. "The Supreme Court encourages lawyers to provide pro bono services as a part of our practice. Our conflict of interest rules cover situations that directly and financially benefit individual legislators. "Because my work in this matter occurred in the past, and was unpaid, there was no potential conflict to disclose." READ MORE: New concerns over Minneapolis violence prevention funding decisions The Source This story used information from statements made by Sen. Champion and the ethics complaint to the subcommittee on ethical conduct.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota Senate Republicans file ethics complaint against Champion
Senate president Bobby Joe Champion, right, talks after leading the session during the regular legislative session Monday, March 27, 2023. Photo by Nicole Neri for the Minnesota Reformer. Minnesota Senate Republicans filed an ethics complaint against Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, arguing that he used his elected position to steer funding for his legal client. The Reformer first reported last week that Champion, a practicing attorney, had advocated for millions in grants for a nonprofit headed up by one of his legal clients, the Rev. Jerry McAfee. Champion says his pro-bono legal work for McAfee concluded just prior to the start of the 2023 legislative session, when he successfully steered $3 million in public funds to McAfee's violence prevention group 21 Days of Peace. Earlier this month, Champion introduced another bill allocating $1 million to 21 Days of Peace. Champion did not disclose to his fellow senators that he had represented McAfee and his nonprofit Salem Inc. in four court cases involving nonpayment of mortgages on multiple Minneapolis properties. Senate Republicans in their ethics complaint argued that Champion's failure to disclose his relationship with McAfee 'violated Senate Rules by falling short of the highest ethical standards, betraying the public trust, and giving the appearance that his independence of judgement was impaired by his legal relationship with Rev. McAfee and Salem Inc.' 'This is a clear and deeply troubling case of a public official using their legislative position to potentially benefit their private legal clients,' Sen. Michael Kreun, R-Blaine, said in a statement. 'With what we know, at a minimum this is a conflict of interest that warranted disclosure. At worst, it's an abuse of public office for personal and professional gain.' Champion earlier this week told the Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee that the reporting about his connection with McAfee and the grant funding he steered to the nonprofit was a 'smear' on his name. Champion has temporarily stepped down as chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Ethics, and he has asked the committee to issue an advisory opinion on whether his actions on behalf of McAfee's group represented a conflict of interest and should have been disclosed under Senate rules. 'There's no conflict from my vantage point,' Champion told the Senate jobs committee. McAfee isn't the only legal client to benefit from Champion's grantmaking: In 2024, he provided legal representation for a Minneapolis-based substance abuse treatment provider, Turning Point. The prior year, Champion spearheaded a successful effort to direct $1 million in public funds to the organization for improving their facility. Champion said he was not compensated for his legal representation of Turning Point, and he was involved in the case only briefly. The Star Tribune reported that Champion's executive assistant, Shemeka Bogan, previously worked for McAfee's 21 Days of Peace. Champion and Bogan both previously worked for the nonprofit Stairstep Foundation, and Champion in his Senate role has advocated for public funding for Stairstep. Champion's ethically questionable conduct underscores the perils of Minnesota's part-time Legislature when most lawmakers need to earn a living beyond their $51,750 legislative salary, and how lawmaker-directed grants create an ethics minefield. Some lawmakers are now seeking to curtail the practice of lawmakers giving public funds directly to nonprofits.
