Summary
President Donald Trump has suggested eliminating the Senate filibuster to resolve the ongoing government shutdown, but several Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader John Thune, oppose this idea. The filibuster is a Senate rule that requires 60 votes to proceed with legislation, which currently prevents Republicans from passing funding bills without some Democratic support.
Key Facts
- President Trump proposed ending the Senate filibuster to help pass government funding.
- The filibuster requires 60 votes to move legislation forward in the Senate.
- Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats and need support from at least seven Democrats due to the filibuster rule.
- Democrats are using the filibuster to push for the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies.
- The government shutdown has lasted for two months.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several other Republicans are against ending the filibuster.
- "Nuclear option" refers to using a simple majority to change Senate rules and eliminate the filibuster.
- The filibuster was first addressed by creating a cloture rule in 1917 and changed in 1975 to require 60 votes.
