WALLACE: A simple majority, not a — a supermajority of 60 votes. If the Democrats block a Supreme Court nominee, are you going to extend the nuclear option to Supreme Court nominees because now they still need 60 votes?
MCCONNELL: Well, let me just say, I’m confident we’ll get a Supreme Court nominees confirmed. I expect an outstanding nominee sometime soon. I think it’s noteworthy to look at how the Republican minority handled Bill Clinton the first — in his first administration. Both — both of his first two nominees, Ginsburg and Breyer, no filibuster. Obama, in his first term, to go, no filibuster. We think our nominee ought to be treated the same way. If he is not treated that way, then, under the current Senate rule, we would have to get cloture. That is, we’d have to get 60 votes. We had to do that when the Democrats objecting to Justice Alito 10 years ago, but cloture was invoked. Sorry for the long answer. I think the short answer is, the nominee will be confirmed.
WALLACE: But would you consider extending the nuclear option and saying, even for Supreme Court justices, just a simple majority?
MCCONNELL: The nominee will be confirmed.
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“THE NOMINEE WILL BE CONFIRMED.”
It’s pretty clear all options are on the table.
“THE NOMINEE WILL BE CONFIRMED.”
It’s pretty clear all options are on the table.
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It looks to me like McConnell is going to try it without removing the filibuster. If the Dems block it, then he has a pretty strong Plan B to have the rules committee drop the filibuster requirement and then vote to fill the appointment.
Thus, it will be set up so it is the Dems’ fault for forcing the change in the rule on SCOTUS appointments, if such a rule change is effected.