Senate GOPer: We’ll Change Filibuster Rules For SCOTUS Nominees, Too

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, questions B. Todd Jones of Minnesota, President Barack Obama's nominee for director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and E... Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, questions B. Todd Jones of Minnesota, President Barack Obama's nominee for director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, during the committee's hearing on Jones' nomination, Tuesday, June 11, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) MORE LESS
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When Republicans regain control of the Senate, they’re likely going to expand the rules change that Democrats approved Thursday to apply to U.S. Supreme Court nominees, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said on the Senate floor.

The changes passed by Democrats affects votes on judicial and executive nominees — requiring only 51 votes to end a filibuster — but excludes nominees to the Supreme Court.

“The silver lining is that there will come a day when roles are reversed. When that happens, our side will likely nominate and confirm lower court and Supreme Court nominees with 51 votes,” Grassley said, “regardless of whether the Democrats actually buy into this fanciful notion that they can demolish the filibuster on lower court nominees and still preserve it for Supreme Court.”

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