Senate GOP resistance grows to Trump’s call for ending filibuster during government shutdown

President Trump wants Senate Republicans to open the government by going around Democrats to end the legislative filibuster. Here’s what you need to know about Trump’s nuclear option demand and Republican resistance to eliminating the Senate’s signature rule:

Trump’s nuclear option call

President demands elimination of 60-vote threshold:

• President Trump wants Senate Republicans to open government by going around Democrats to end legislative filibuster
• But he will have his work cut out for him to convince enough Republicans, most of whom have long-held views against blowing up primary rule that differentiates Senate from House
• Senate Democrats have been filibustering stopgap spending bill needed to reopen government, blocking it 13 times as they demand bipartisan negotiation over health care and extending COVID-era expansion of Obamacare premium subsidies set to expire this year
• “Because of fact that Democrats have gone stone cold ’crazy,’ choice is clear — initiate ’nuclear option,’ get rid of filibuster and, make America great again!” Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday night, using all capital letters

Not Trump’s first attempt

President made similar demands during first term:

• This is first time Mr. Trump has called for ending filibuster during his second term, but he made ask several times during his first, and Senate Republicans did not comply

Republican resistance

GOP senators defend filibuster’s importance:

• Sen. John Curtis, Utah Republican serving his first year in upper chamber, rejected Mr. Trump’s suggestion on social media Friday
• “The filibuster forces us to find common ground in Senate,” he said. “Power changes hands, but principles shouldn’t. I’m firm no on eliminating it”
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Dakota Republican, has long opposed ending legislative filibuster and ruled that out on Day 10 of shutdown as option for reopening government
• “The filibuster protects; it’s been voice for minority; it gives minority say in what happens in this country,” he said. “The founders created Senate uniquely that way, for that specific reason”

Filibuster mechanics

Senate rule requires 60 votes to advance most legislation:

• Filibuster is tool in Senate, most often used by minority party, to block or stall legislation
• It requires 60 votes to end filibuster, requirement that forces bipartisan support if majority party does not have enough votes on its side
• It’s rare for Senate to be controlled by filibuster-proof majority. Last time that happened was at start of 111th Congress and President Barack Obama’s first term in 2009

Vote count challenges

Republicans need Democratic support to overcome filibuster:

• Senate Republicans have 53-seat majority, so they need at least seven Democrats to join them on legislation to overcome filibuster
• In case of stopgap bill to reopen government, Republicans need eight Democratic votes because Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul opposes it. He does not support continuing current levels of government spending
• Three senators who caucus with Democrats — Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Angus King of Maine — have already been voting with Republicans to reopen government
• It will take five more Democratic votes to overcome filibuster and pass stopgap

Nuclear option process

Simple majority could change Senate rules:

• Or it would take Mr. Trump to convince 51 Republican senators to use “nuclear option” to end filibuster
• Using simple majority to change rules is called nuclear option because it typically would take two-thirds vote

Growing GOP consideration

Some Republicans reconsidering position amid prolonged shutdown:

• At least one Republican who has opposed scrapping filibuster says he’s open to revisiting debate since shutdown has dragged on for month now
• “I never really, ever seriously considered ending filibuster until this very, very last week. There’s no doubt that ending filibuster allows us to open government. It allows us to plow through President Trump’s agenda, whole lot of great things,” Sen. Roger Marshall, Kansas Republican, said Friday on Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria”

Concerns about future consequences

Marshall warns of Democratic retaliation risks:

• Mr. Marshall said biggest argument for getting rid of filibuster is that Democrats are likely to do it anyway next time they’re in power, but he expressed unease about Republicans doing job for them
• “We’ve got to be careful what we wish for here,” he said
• “If we do this, next time Democrats are in power and they can control all three levers, they’re going to nuke Supreme Court, pack Supreme Court, they’re going to make Puerto Rico and District of Columbia states. They’re going to give us Medicaid for all. So, this will be hot, hot debate right now”

Read more:

• Trump calls for Senate Republicans to end shutdown by scrapping filibuster