Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Senate Republicans’ Decision To Go Nuclear To Confirm Trump’s Unqualified Nominees

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor following Republicans' decision to choose the "nuclear option" on nominations, warning that the move only weakens the Senate's authority and paves the way for President Trump's unqualified nominees to be rubber stamped without proper scrutiny. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks:

I just want everyone here, and in the country, to understand what our Republican colleagues just did.

For the third time this year, Republicans just resorted to the so-called "nuclear option" in the Senate, weakening the Senate even further and turning this chamber into a conveyor belt for unqualified Trump nominees. A conveyor belt for unqualified Trump nominees.

Make no mistake, this move by Republicans was not so much about ending obstruction as they claim-rather it was another act of genuflection to the executive branch.

Democrats have shown very clearly we're willing to negotiate. We did that at the end of the last work period. We were doing it today!

But what Republicans have done today is chip away at the Senate even more, to give Donald Trump more power, and to rubber stamp whomever he wants, whenever he wants them, no questions asked.

That is not the Senate's job. We are supposed to debate and take votes on nominees, especially when the executive branch is grossly breaking norms by sending us woefully unqualified, unscrupulous, and in some cases deeply dishonest individuals for powerful and important positions.

By going nuclear today, Republicans are saying "we don't want to do our jobs." They're saying "whatever Donald Trump wants, we'll do it!"

Make no mistake, because of the harmful step Republicans took today, the historically bad nominees Donald Trump has sent the Senate all year long will get even worse.

Republicans now own-even more than they had before-the terrible nominees that are about to sail through this chamber. The special interests will get even richer. And the American people will be the ones hurt the most.

This is a sad, regrettable day for the Senate, and I believe it won't take very long for Republicans to wish they had not pushed the chamber further down this awful road.

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