Sen. Bernie Sanders called on Senate Republicans to confirm Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch with the usually required 60 votes on “State of the Union” Sunday morning.
The so-called “nuclear option” would allow Republicans to confirm Gorsuch with a “50 plus 1” vote, an easy bar as long as Republicans vote together. If Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell were to insist on a 60-person vote, eight Democrats would need to support President Donald Trump’s pick.
“This is a major, major nomination. It should require 60 votes and a very serious debate,” Sanders asserted. “Obama’s nominations required 60 votes. So should Trump’s.”
“What this Supreme Court decision is about is whether or not we continue Citizens United and allow billionaires to buy elections. It’s whether or not we continue Roe v. Wade and allow a woman to control her own body,” he argued.
Sanders would support Gorsuch’s ascension to the Supreme Court if, and only if, he received the full 60 votes, adding that the power of the position required Republicans to follow the normal procedures.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also called for Republicans to honor the 60 vote requirement last week, and added in early January that he regretted Democrat’s installation of the “nuclear option” when the Democrats held the majority under President Barack Obama.
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