Saturday, November 07, 2020

[zobewcsd] senate nuclear option versus package appointments

in 2013 Senate Democrats invoked the "nuclear option" for lower level judicial appointments.  this change in Senate rules seems to have backfired, ultimately resulting in the confirmation of Barrett for the Supreme Court who could have been filibustered under old rules.  (unclear whether Republicans would have launched first strike later had Democrats not gone nuclear first.)

far better in retrospect it seems would have been a change in Senate rules (assuming one was necessary) allowing for a group of people to be voted for confirmation in a single vote.  if neither party has the supermajority to close debate, then appointments likely proceed in pairs, each pair containing one person favored by each party.  Supreme Court seats remain vacant until two seats become vacant.

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