President Trump on Tuesday called for the Senate to end the filibuster and allow legislation to pass with a simple majority, saying it would help his agenda to pass “fast and easy.”
“The U.S. Senate should switch to 51 votes, immediately, and get Healthcare and TAX CUTS approved, fast and easy. Dems would do it, no doubt!” Trump tweeted. In fact, the GOP can pass healthcare bills and tax reform with a 51-vote majority if Republicans can reach agreements among themselves.
The U.S. Senate should switch to 51 votes, immediately, and get Healthcare and TAX CUTS approved, fast and easy. Dems would do it, no doubt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2017
Trump called earlier this month for the end of the filibuster, which essentially requires 60 votes for a bill to pass the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellRyan, McConnell brought props to meeting to talk Trump out of government shutdown: report Booker defies GOP warning, releases another batch of 'confidential' Kavanaugh docs Trump in good shape to secure second Supreme Court confirmation victory MORE (R-Ky.) shot down Trump’s call at the time, saying “that will not happen.”
Senate Republicans are planning to pass an ObamaCare repeal bill and tax reform using reconciliation, a process that requires only 51 votes to pass budget-related measures. As a result, they would not need any Democratic votes to pass either.
Nevertheless, GOP lawmakers have remained deeply divided on healthcare and tax reform. In the Senate, some Republicans have indicated that they will try to pass their own bill measure to repeal and replace ObamaCare and will not vote on the version of the American Health Care Act passed by the House last month.
Senate Republicans voted last month to lower the vote threshold for Supreme Court nominees to 51 votes, in order to confirm Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Senate Democrats similarly changed the rules for judicial nominees below the Supreme Court in 2013.
— Updated at 10:32 a.m.
