Senate Democrats Block Neil Gorsuch’s Supreme Court Nomination, While The GOP Votes To ‘Go Nuclear’

Trump Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch will likely pass muster when all is said and done in the Senate. Many have expressed the desire for a Democratic filibuster, but while Sen. Jeff Merkley recently held the floor for 15-hours, his speech wasn’t technically a filibuster (because he wasn’t yet preventing a vote). However, Senate Democrats have successfully blocked Gorsuch’s nomination from advancing further in the Senate.

Gorsuch did not receive the 60 votes needed to end the debate over his nomination, so the block was successful. Of course, this is a temporary measure, since Senate Republicans — led by Mitch McConnell — have made no secret of their intention to change the rules. Via the New York Times:

The 55-45 Senate vote was five short of the 60 needed to cut off debate on Judge Gorsuch’s nomination and move to a final confirmation vote. The Democrats’ opposition is unlikely to stop Judge Gorsuch, however. Republicans were expected later on Thursday to pursue the so-called nuclear option: changing longstanding rules to bypass the filibuster and lift President Trump’s nominee with a simple majority vote. Judge Gorsuch’s final confirmation is expected on Friday.

What comes next? 24 full hours of Senate angst, which will almost undoubtedly result in the 52 votes needed to confirm, provided that the GOP does change the rules as promised. Such a rules change will also prevent a pesky filibuster from burning tonight’s midnight oil.

Yet a rules change will not arrive without consequence. This so-called “nuclear option” will only breed resentment and lead to even more combative Supreme Court-related debates for future nominees. If the GOP can elevate their nominees without much resistance (and a simple majority vote is currently easy to pull off, given the Senate’s composition), Trump will be tempted to bring in judges who lean even further to the right than Gorsuch does. This will only breed more fiery showdowns than what we’re seeing today. This is America in 2017.

UPDATE – 12:35pm: The Associated Press reports that Senate Republicans have voted to “go nuclear” and will change the rules while bypassing a filibuster.

(Via New York Times & Washington Post)