Robert Donachie on May 30, 2017
President Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday that the Senate should use the nuclear option to pass health care and tax reform.
“The U.S. Senate should switch to 51 votes, immediately, and get Healthcare and TAX CUTS approved, fast and easy,” the president tweeted Tuesday morning. “Dems would do it, no doubt!”
Traditionally, senators are allowed to filibuster to stall a bill that is short of the 60 votes needed to pass legislation. In recent years, Senate leadership has removed the filibuster to pass legislation in spite of the opposition.
Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid eliminated the filibuster in 2013 to push through nominations from former President Barack Obama to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Current Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky returned the favor to Democrats in April, removing the filibuster to confirm Justice Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court.
The Senate is currently reviewing the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which members of the House passed in early May. Senators are trying to pass health care reform through the budget “reconciliation” process, which requires that every provision or amendment have a direct impact on the budget. (RELATED: Senate Could Hit A Snag In Funding Obamacare Subsidies)
If the Senate version cuts the federal deficit, it will not be subject to the 60-vote rule in the Senate.
The president wants health care reform finalized before his administration employs its entire team towards overhauling the U.S. tax code.
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