GOP Planning 30-Hour ‘Talkathon’ On Senate Floor
The “talkathon,” besides wasting time and taxpayer dollars, will be for the purpose of protesting the implementation of the nuclear option.
The GOP protest, which could extend into the weekend, will throw a wrench in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) hopes of wrapping up legislative business for 2013 as soon as possible.
Republicans will delay a final vote on Cornelia Pillard, one of President Obama’s picks for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, until about 1 a.m. Thursday.
Then, Senate Republicans will hold the floor throughout the night, speaking out against Reid’s use of the nuclear option. Reid invoked the controversial tactic before Thanksgiving to strip Republicans of the power to filibuster judicial and executive branch nominees. The rules change did not affect Supreme Court picks…
A Senate Democratic leadership aide said the GOP floor protest will not stop the Senate from voting on other nominees Thursday.
“All they’re doing is highlighting their own impotence,” said the aide. “The Republicans no longer have the tools to delay that they had before.”
