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| US Senate averts 'nuclear option' for blocked nominees | US Senate averts 'nuclear option' for blocked nominees |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| US Senate Democrats have agreed not to force a historic change in the chamber's rules if Republicans stop blocking some of President Barack Obama's nominees to federal agencies. | US Senate Democrats have agreed not to force a historic change in the chamber's rules if Republicans stop blocking some of President Barack Obama's nominees to federal agencies. |
| Democrats had threatened to ban a tactic known as a filibuster, which has been used by both parties over the years to block White House nominees. | Democrats had threatened to ban a tactic known as a filibuster, which has been used by both parties over the years to block White House nominees. |
| The Senate then approved the first of the stalled nominees in a 66-34 vote. | The Senate then approved the first of the stalled nominees in a 66-34 vote. |
| It was feared such a rule change would make US politics even more acrimonious. | It was feared such a rule change would make US politics even more acrimonious. |
| It could also have been used against Democrats if Republicans were to regain a Senate majority in the next election. | It could also have been used against Democrats if Republicans were to regain a Senate majority in the next election. |
| The chamber confirmed Richard Cordray as the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a relatively new agency, on Tuesday. | The chamber confirmed Richard Cordray as the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a relatively new agency, on Tuesday. |
| Mr Obama named Mr Cordray for the post in January 2012, but Republicans have been blocking his nomination in order to wring concessions on how the agency is run. | |
| 'Not a bad deal' | 'Not a bad deal' |
| Under current rules, Senate confirmations and other legislation can be blocked by a procedural hurdle known as a filibuster, which can only be stopped with 60 out of 100 votes. | Under current rules, Senate confirmations and other legislation can be blocked by a procedural hurdle known as a filibuster, which can only be stopped with 60 out of 100 votes. |
| In practice, the 46-strong Republican minority voting together can block nearly any measure. | In practice, the 46-strong Republican minority voting together can block nearly any measure. |
| Democrat Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, said senators in his party would seek to ban filibusters through a simple majority of 51 votes, instead of the 67 currently needed to change the chamber's rules. | Democrat Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, said senators in his party would seek to ban filibusters through a simple majority of 51 votes, instead of the 67 currently needed to change the chamber's rules. |
| This was known as the "nuclear option", creating a precedent for any future Senate majority to curtail the rights of the minority group of senators. | This was known as the "nuclear option", creating a precedent for any future Senate majority to curtail the rights of the minority group of senators. |
| But after a three-hour, closed-door session with all but two of the 100 senators, lawmakers from both parties signalled a deal was at hand. | But after a three-hour, closed-door session with all but two of the 100 senators, lawmakers from both parties signalled a deal was at hand. |
| As he left Tuesday's meeting, Republican Senator John McCain told reporters it was "probably the hardest thing I've been involved in", but said the proposal was "an important step forward". | As he left Tuesday's meeting, Republican Senator John McCain told reporters it was "probably the hardest thing I've been involved in", but said the proposal was "an important step forward". |
| Max Baucus, a Democrat, told the Washington Post the gathering had been helpful for overall relations in the Senate. | Max Baucus, a Democrat, told the Washington Post the gathering had been helpful for overall relations in the Senate. |
| The Montana senator said: "There should be many more meetings like that, frankly. We don't talk to each other enough." | The Montana senator said: "There should be many more meetings like that, frankly. We don't talk to each other enough." |
| Under the deal, President Obama will also be able to name two new nominees for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). | Under the deal, President Obama will also be able to name two new nominees for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). |
| "It is a compromise, and I think we get what we want, they get what they want. Not a bad deal," Sen Reid said on the Senate floor. | "It is a compromise, and I think we get what we want, they get what they want. Not a bad deal," Sen Reid said on the Senate floor. |
| Other stalled confirmations now expected to gain a full Senate confirmation vote include Tom Perez, to head the Department of Labor, and Gina McCarthy to run the Environmental Protection Agency. | Other stalled confirmations now expected to gain a full Senate confirmation vote include Tom Perez, to head the Department of Labor, and Gina McCarthy to run the Environmental Protection Agency. |