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Senate leaders broker deal to end deadlock on Obama appointments Senate leaders broker deal to end deadlock on Obama appointments
(2 months later)
A deadlock in the US Senate, which has seen Republicans spend months obstructing Barack Obama's appointments to top executive posts in his administration, came to an end on Tuesday after an eleventh-hour compromise.A deadlock in the US Senate, which has seen Republicans spend months obstructing Barack Obama's appointments to top executive posts in his administration, came to an end on Tuesday after an eleventh-hour compromise.
The agreement was reached after Democratic leaders in the Senate threatened the so-called "nuclear option", a radical legislative move which would have essentially stripped opponents of their ability to filibuster the president's appointees.The agreement was reached after Democratic leaders in the Senate threatened the so-called "nuclear option", a radical legislative move which would have essentially stripped opponents of their ability to filibuster the president's appointees.
It was a potentially momentous change that would have infuriated Republicans and constituted one of the most significant changes to the way the Senate has conducted its business since the 1970s.It was a potentially momentous change that would have infuriated Republicans and constituted one of the most significant changes to the way the Senate has conducted its business since the 1970s.
However, shortly after 10am on Tuesday, with less than an hour to go before the showdown Senate vote, Democratic majority leader Harry Reid announced that lawmakers had found a "way forward".However, shortly after 10am on Tuesday, with less than an hour to go before the showdown Senate vote, Democratic majority leader Harry Reid announced that lawmakers had found a "way forward".
"I think we see a way forward that will be good for everybody," Reid said on the Senate floor. "It is a compromise. I think we get what we want and they get what they want. That's not a bad deal.""I think we see a way forward that will be good for everybody," Reid said on the Senate floor. "It is a compromise. I think we get what we want and they get what they want. That's not a bad deal."
He credited Republican senator John McCain for reaching the breakthrough. "John McCain is the reason we're at the point we are," Reid said. "No one was able to break through but him, and he does it at his own peril."He credited Republican senator John McCain for reaching the breakthrough. "John McCain is the reason we're at the point we are," Reid said. "No one was able to break through but him, and he does it at his own peril."
For his part, McCain said the agreement had averted "what many of us believe would have been a crisis" in the Senate.For his part, McCain said the agreement had averted "what many of us believe would have been a crisis" in the Senate.
The Senate voted by a majority of 71-29 to bring to an end debate on Richard Cordray, who Obama has appointed to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.The Senate voted by a majority of 71-29 to bring to an end debate on Richard Cordray, who Obama has appointed to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
He was the first of seven presidential nominees to key positions in the administration who were being blocked by by Republicans.He was the first of seven presidential nominees to key positions in the administration who were being blocked by by Republicans.
Early reports suggest the compromise could involve two of Obama's nominees being replaced with new appointments – in exchange, Republicans will allow the remaining five appointments to pass.Early reports suggest the compromise could involve two of Obama's nominees being replaced with new appointments – in exchange, Republicans will allow the remaining five appointments to pass.
The deal, which appears to have involved a core group of Republicans, including McCain, brings to an end one of the most intense partisan stalemates the Senate has faced in recent years.The deal, which appears to have involved a core group of Republicans, including McCain, brings to an end one of the most intense partisan stalemates the Senate has faced in recent years.
During one heated exchange last week, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell accused Reid of acting irresponsibly by threatening the nuclear option, saying he could be remembered "as the worst leader here ever."During one heated exchange last week, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell accused Reid of acting irresponsibly by threatening the nuclear option, saying he could be remembered "as the worst leader here ever."
However, Reid's refusal to blink appeared to have succeeded when the sufficient numbers of Republicans agreed to allow Cordray's nomination to pass, signaling a breakthrough.However, Reid's refusal to blink appeared to have succeeded when the sufficient numbers of Republicans agreed to allow Cordray's nomination to pass, signaling a breakthrough.
Republicans had spent months using the threat of filibusters to prevent Obama's appointments to key positions in his administration, to the growing frustration in the White House and Democrats on Capitol Hill.Republicans had spent months using the threat of filibusters to prevent Obama's appointments to key positions in his administration, to the growing frustration in the White House and Democrats on Capitol Hill.
Reid's threatened rule change would have allowed the Senate to end filibusters on presidential nominations with a straight majority.Reid's threatened rule change would have allowed the Senate to end filibusters on presidential nominations with a straight majority.
Under the current system, the votes of three-fifths of the Senate – 60 of the 100 lawmakers – are required to force an end to a debate in the chamber.Under the current system, the votes of three-fifths of the Senate – 60 of the 100 lawmakers – are required to force an end to a debate in the chamber.
Democrats currently control 54 votes, and were unable to prevent their Republican opponents from using filibuster tactics to stall Obama's nominations.Democrats currently control 54 votes, and were unable to prevent their Republican opponents from using filibuster tactics to stall Obama's nominations.
The move was being widely referred to in Washington as the "nuclear option" because it would have enraged Republicans, who were threatening to retaliate by blocking other legislation.The move was being widely referred to in Washington as the "nuclear option" because it would have enraged Republicans, who were threatening to retaliate by blocking other legislation.
As well as deepening the already the entrenched partisanship in Congress, the move could have radically changed the way senators do business in the future, paving the way to an end of filibusters in judicial nominations or even legislation, meaning laws could easily be passed through the Senate by whichever party has a one-vote majority.As well as deepening the already the entrenched partisanship in Congress, the move could have radically changed the way senators do business in the future, paving the way to an end of filibusters in judicial nominations or even legislation, meaning laws could easily be passed through the Senate by whichever party has a one-vote majority.
It was a bold gamble, but Reid's determination to see through the threat appeared to have worked, forcing some Republicans into a compromise deal, and pulling the Senate back from the brink of the historical change.It was a bold gamble, but Reid's determination to see through the threat appeared to have worked, forcing some Republicans into a compromise deal, and pulling the Senate back from the brink of the historical change.
The last-minute agreement was by no means a certainty. On Monday night, all but two senators concluded a four hour meeting in the Old Senate Chamber, having been unable to hammer out a deal.The last-minute agreement was by no means a certainty. On Monday night, all but two senators concluded a four hour meeting in the Old Senate Chamber, having been unable to hammer out a deal.
However, Reid, McCain and other senators said the meeting had been instrumental in bridging the divide between the two parties.However, Reid, McCain and other senators said the meeting had been instrumental in bridging the divide between the two parties.
But it was not until Tuesday morning, with the clock ticking down to a potentially momentous vote, that McCain appears to have helped strike a deal.But it was not until Tuesday morning, with the clock ticking down to a potentially momentous vote, that McCain appears to have helped strike a deal.
It was not until the last-minute discussions on Tuesday, spearheaded on the Republican side by McCain, that an agreement was finally reached.It was not until the last-minute discussions on Tuesday, spearheaded on the Republican side by McCain, that an agreement was finally reached.
The White House has become increasingly irritated by tactics used on Capitol Hill to impede Obama's appointments.The White House has become increasingly irritated by tactics used on Capitol Hill to impede Obama's appointments.
The president's spokesman, Jay Carney, said on Monday that Republicans had "needlessly and systematically obstructed" blocked appointments to the administration, with some nominees having waited more than 100 days for a floor vote.The president's spokesman, Jay Carney, said on Monday that Republicans had "needlessly and systematically obstructed" blocked appointments to the administration, with some nominees having waited more than 100 days for a floor vote.
"Gridlock is something we've seen in Washington for some time, but the Republicans in the Senate have brought gridlock to new heights – or new lows, depending on how you look at it," he said on Monday."Gridlock is something we've seen in Washington for some time, but the Republicans in the Senate have brought gridlock to new heights – or new lows, depending on how you look at it," he said on Monday.
"The data bear this out in terms of the vast increase in filibusters and the blocking of nominations; the needless stalling of nominations.""The data bear this out in terms of the vast increase in filibusters and the blocking of nominations; the needless stalling of nominations."
This is not the first time senators have threatened radical action to overcome filibustering on presidential appointments.This is not the first time senators have threatened radical action to overcome filibustering on presidential appointments.
The phrase "nuclear option" was also used in 2005, when Republicans threatened to use the same procedure to thwart Democrats, who were blocking judicial appointments under the George W Bush administration.The phrase "nuclear option" was also used in 2005, when Republicans threatened to use the same procedure to thwart Democrats, who were blocking judicial appointments under the George W Bush administration.
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