Senate Republicans should not be intimidated from filibustering nominees

July 9, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement urging Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) not to be intimidated by Senate Democrat threats to repeal the filibuster from Senate Rule XXII:

“Senate Republicans must not be intimidated from asserting their rights as the minority party in the Senate. Rule XXII is very clear that it takes 67 votes to amend Senate rules. Any change to rules by a simple majority would clearly violate standing rules and break almost a century of precedent. Senate Democrats should also be warned that if they do repeal the filibuster in this manner, it will be for all time. When, not if, Democrats again find themselves in the minority, this will be used against them.

“Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell should not be fearful of using the filibuster against nominees like Richard Cordray to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Gina McCarthy to head the Environmental Protection Agency, Thomas Perez to head the Labor Department, or Obama’s nominees for the National Labor Relations Board. This is nothing more than an idle threat by the Senate majority to bully Republicans into allowing the Senate to become little more than a rubber stamp for nominees.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703) 383-0880 ext. 103 or at media@algnews.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.

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