WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says Republicans can avoid a change in Senate filibuster rules only if they confirm seven presidential appointees they've been blocking.
Reid: GOP can avoid Senate rules change if they confirm 7 Obama nominations
July 15, 2013 at 3:50PM
Speaking to the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress, Reid said Monday that a partial deal to confirm fewer than those seven will not suffice.
He again threatened to change Senate rules to allow simple-majority votes for presidential nominees other than judges, calling such a move, "a minor change, no big deal." He added that it would be the easiest way to avoid such infighting.
Senate Republicans and at least one Democrat, Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, strongly disagree. Senators from both parties were scheduled to meet Monday night in the Old Senate Chamber, in a last ditch-effort to avoid the change.
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While the focus was on Vice President Kamala Harris in their first media interview of the presidential campaign, Walz was asked if voters could take him at his word.
