The final chapter is still being written. Republicans’ could reverse the rules change they have railed against for a year and require 60 votes for nominees, which may have to be done by the same reviled unilateral “nuclear option” that Democrats used. Or the GOP could leave things as is, preferring not to tinker with the chamber’s byzantine rules and precedent after unloading so much criticism on Democrats for doing the same.
“I saw senior members arguing against themselves,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) of the meeting. He favors moving the voting threshold back to 60 votes — but he may be outnumbered.
While no clear consensus emerged inside the Senate’s Strom Thurmond Room, Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said the “prevailing view” was to keep things as is. And that crowd gained a forceful advocate on Tuesday afternoon as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said he favors keeping the lower, 51-vote threshold.
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