Senate Rules Shift on Nominees Risks Legislative Slowdown
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The most significant change in three decades in how the Senate approves presidential nominees could make one of the least productive Congresses even more gridlocked, endangering efforts to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and fund the government, Republicans say.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s move to end filibusters for most executive nominations yesterday led to an escalation of partisan warfare that risks the success of spending talks as well as defense and farm policy legislation.