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| Obama supports Senate rule change to curb filibusters | Obama supports Senate rule change to curb filibusters |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has lent his support to a move by Senate Democrats to limit Republicans' ability to block White House nominations. | |
| The measure, known as the "nuclear option", curbs the power of the upper chamber's minority party to use a blocking tactic known as a filibuster. | The measure, known as the "nuclear option", curbs the power of the upper chamber's minority party to use a blocking tactic known as a filibuster. |
| Mr Obama cited Republicans' "unprecedented pattern of obstruction". | |
| Republicans vowed they would use the new rule against Democrats if they won back the Senate in the next election. | Republicans vowed they would use the new rule against Democrats if they won back the Senate in the next election. |
| Correspondents said Thursday's motion, which passed 52-48, will make American politics even more acrimonious. | Correspondents said Thursday's motion, which passed 52-48, will make American politics even more acrimonious. |
| 'Power grab' | 'Power grab' |
| At the White House on Thursday, Mr Obama conceded that neither party had been blameless in filibusters. | At the White House on Thursday, Mr Obama conceded that neither party had been blameless in filibusters. |
| But he said it was unacceptable that nearly 30 of his nominees had been blocked from confirmation since he took office. | |
| The US leader called it an "unprecedented pattern of obstruction in Congress" to block qualified candidates. | The US leader called it an "unprecedented pattern of obstruction in Congress" to block qualified candidates. |
| "A deliberate and determined effort to obstruct everything, no matter what the merits, just to refight the results of an election, is not normal," he said. | "A deliberate and determined effort to obstruct everything, no matter what the merits, just to refight the results of an election, is not normal," he said. |
| Under the rule change, the party in control of the upper chamber of the US Congress now requires just 51 votes, instead of 60, to overcome a filibuster of White House judicial or executive nominations. | Under the rule change, the party in control of the upper chamber of the US Congress now requires just 51 votes, instead of 60, to overcome a filibuster of White House judicial or executive nominations. |
| Democrats currently have 55 seats in the Senate; Republicans 45. | Democrats currently have 55 seats in the Senate; Republicans 45. |
| The motion does not affect Supreme Court nominations or regular legislation. | The motion does not affect Supreme Court nominations or regular legislation. |
| It is viewed as the most significant rule change since 1975, when the requirement to end any filibuster on the Senate floor was decreased from two-thirds of all senators to the current 60. | It is viewed as the most significant rule change since 1975, when the requirement to end any filibuster on the Senate floor was decreased from two-thirds of all senators to the current 60. |
| "This is a power grab," argued Senator Lamar Alexander. "It's another partisan political manoeuvre to permit the Democratic majority to do whatever it wants to do." | "This is a power grab," argued Senator Lamar Alexander. "It's another partisan political manoeuvre to permit the Democratic majority to do whatever it wants to do." |
| Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his fellow Democrats - who control the chamber for now - had repeatedly warned they might ram through the motion. | Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his fellow Democrats - who control the chamber for now - had repeatedly warned they might ram through the motion. |
| In July, Democrats set aside a threat to do so only after Republicans dropped their long-standing objections to several White House nominees. | In July, Democrats set aside a threat to do so only after Republicans dropped their long-standing objections to several White House nominees. |
| Earlier this week, Senate Republicans filibustered the nomination of a judge to a key appeals court, the third such move since October. Democrats could not muster enough votes to overcome the manoeuvre. | Earlier this week, Senate Republicans filibustered the nomination of a judge to a key appeals court, the third such move since October. Democrats could not muster enough votes to overcome the manoeuvre. |
| Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Democrats had themselves used the filibuster during the two terms of President George W Bush. | Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Democrats had themselves used the filibuster during the two terms of President George W Bush. |
| Democrats used the filibuster tactic 38 times during Mr Bush's two terms, while Republicans used it 54 times in Mr Obama's first term, according to a June report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. | |
| "You may regret this a lot sooner than you think," Mr McConnell, the Senate's top Republican, said on the chamber floor. | "You may regret this a lot sooner than you think," Mr McConnell, the Senate's top Republican, said on the chamber floor. |
| Republican Senator Chuck Grassley told the Washington Post earlier that if the motion passed, his party would retaliate if it regained control of the chamber. | Republican Senator Chuck Grassley told the Washington Post earlier that if the motion passed, his party would retaliate if it regained control of the chamber. |
| He said they would change the rules again to block any Democratic filibusters of Republican Supreme Court nominees. | He said they would change the rules again to block any Democratic filibusters of Republican Supreme Court nominees. |