McConnell Warns Democrats Not to Change the Filibuster Rule

Leader of the Senate majority Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOn The Money: Governors reconsider opening bars and restaurants amid rising COVID-19 cases | Key cases threaten fragile economic recovery | Supreme Court rules that director of consumer office can be fired at will Night Health Care: Supreme Court nullifies Louisiana abortion law | Governors rethink the opening of bars and restaurants in the middle of the COVID-19 peak | WHO Director Warns Pandemic ‘Accelerates’ NIGHT ENERGY: White House Threatens Veto on 5 Billion Democrats Infrastructure Plan | Supreme Court Won’t Hear Border Wall Challenge | Witnesses describe “excessive force” used by police in Lafayette Square MORE (R-Ky.) He warned Democrats Tuesday that they should not mess with the filibuster rule if they gain control of the camera in November.

He said eliminating the legislative filibuster by lowering the 60-vote threshold to pass bills to a simple majority would be a serious mistake.

“The important thing for our Democratic friends is to remember that you may not be in full control in the future, and every time you start playing by the Senate rules, I think you should always put yourself in the other partner’s shoes and imagine what it could happen when the wind changes, “McConnell told reporters when asked about an increase in discussions among Democrats about changing the filibuster rule if the former vice president Joe BidenJoe Biden Russia’s rewards information included in Trump’s daily briefing: Reports House Democrats to offer roadmap to resolve climate crisis Supreme Court ruling could trigger new legal challenges for bureau of consumers MORE the White House wins and they capture the Senate.

McConnell defended his decision in 2017 to remove the 60-vote threshold for Supreme Court nominees, arguing that the controversial change in rules returned the Senate to its long tradition of confirming judges by a simple majority vote.

McConnell also argued that his decision to scrap the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees, a move that came after his predecessor, former Senate Majority Leader. Harry reidHarry Mason ReidFilibuster reform gains momentum with Democrats The Hill Morning Report: Trump wants an executive order on surveillance; Silent About Outstanding Bills Harry Reid Says He’s Cancer Free MORE (D-Nev.), Put an end to the power of the minority party to filter the executive power and most of the judicial candidates, was not really revolutionary.

He noted that filibusters of judicial and executive branch nominees were a recent phenomenon.

“Although it was possible on the executive calendar to filibulate the nominees, it just wasn’t done until Bush 43 was elected,” he said, referring to former President George W. Bush.

McConnell said the Senate minority leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerFeehery: On Statues and Statutes Top Democrat Leaving Support for Senate Bipartisan Drug Pricing Effort Political establishment takes a hit as supreme chaos reigns MORE (DN.Y.), who was elected to the Senate in 1998, was the “leader” of changing the Senate’s strategy to oppose presidential candidates during the Bush administration.

“What would be a revolution and turning the Senate into the House would be to change the legislative filibuster,” he said. “So am I firmly convinced? You can bet.

“If there are responsible Democratic senators left who are not going to be stamped out by the extreme left, they should pause and think if they really believe it is a good idea for the country to put the only institution that guarantees that the United States stayed in the middle of the road towards the same place as the Chamber, ”he said.

Asked if he would consider changing the legislative filibuster if President TrumpDonald John Trump Top intelligence officials issue statements criticizing the leak of information about Russian rewards. Information on Russian rewards was included in Trump’s daily briefing: Reports that Senators will have access to intelligence about Russian rewards on US troops MORE wins reelection and Republicans remain in control of the Senate, McConnell dismissed it.

“I always said no to the current president on that issue, and he tweeted about me multiple times, which I really appreciated,” McConnell said, ironically joking about Trump’s tweets about his refusal to change the rules.