Patricia Millett, Key Obama Nominee, Filibustered By Senate Republicans
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Senate Republicans filibustered one of President Barack Obama’s top judicial nominees on Thursday, the clearest sign yet that the Senate may be heading for a messy partisan showdown that could result in Democrats revamping Senate filibuster rules.
The Senate voted 55-38 to advance D.C. Circuit Court nominee Patricia Millett. Democrats needed 60 votes to clear a procedural motion, which meant they needed at least five Republicans to join them. In the end, only two did: Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska). Three senators voted “present.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) vowed to revisit Millett’s nomination “at some point in the very near future.” He also left the door open to changing the Senate rules.
“I hope my Republican colleagues will reconsider their continued run of unprecedented obstructionism,” he said. “Something has to change, and I hope we can make the changes necessary through cooperation.”
“If the Republican caucus finds that, despite her amazing, stellar legal reputation and commitment to her country, that somehow a filibuster is warranted, I believe this body will need to consider anew whether a rules change should be in order,” Leahy fumed.
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