How the Button Was Pressed on Nuclear Option

The Wall Street Journal (online registration required): Thursday’s move by Senate Democrats to ease the confirmation for most presidential nominees by requiring only a simple majority vote to end debate marks a rare change for a chamber known for its continuity and its slow, deliberative process.

The change to Senate rules means a simple majority – 51 votes – is needed to cut off a filibuster and move to a final vote, down from 60 votes. It marks the first change to cloture rules since 1975, when the requirement was lowered from 67 votes.

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