The day to vote on Neil Gorsuch’s Supreme Court confirmation is here.
On the heels of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell executing the “nuclear option” on Thursday, Senate will congregate to have a final vote on Gorsuch’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court at around 11:30 a.m. EST on Friday.
Watch a live stream of the vote and debate in the video above.
Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court is pretty much a done deal after Senate rules were changed via the “nuclear option.” Thursday’s tactic changed the majority vote needed to confirm Gorsuch from a super majority of 60 to a simple majority of 51. The “nuclear option” hasn’t been used often, but was last used in 2013 by Democratic Sen. Harry Reid. He used the tactic to ensure confirmations to the executive branch could go through under President Barack Obama.
On Tuesday, McConnell filed cloture on Gorsuch’s nomination debate. That brought Gorsuch’s nomination one step further, as the Senate Judiciary Committee already voted to approve Gorsuch on Monday.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) said he feelt ashamed to have to Republicans use to “nuclear option” tactic, but it wass their only option.
Hamilton is rolling over in his grave. I’m sorry we got here, but we are where we are. And I’m going to vote to change the rules because I’m not going to be part of a Senate where Democrats get their judges and Republican can never get theirs. That’s not what it’s all about.