President Barack Obama strongly backed the use of the “nuclear option” in the Senate to end filibusters of nominations and seemed to push for a broader end to the use of filibusters to stall legislation as well.
“If you have a majority of folks who believe in something, then it should pass,” Obama said, complaining of a litany of legislation that has died at the minority’s hands under his presidency, including bills on immigration, equal pay, jobs, guns and taxes, in addition to nominations.
“We have seen an unprecedented pattern of obstruction in Congress,” he said.
Ending filibusters of nominations restores the longstanding tradition of considering them on a more routine basis, Obama said.
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