Corrupt Backdoor Nuclear Option Means Chaos in the Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Republicans tonight voted to overrule the parliamentarian to pass three controversial Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions of disapproval, which target Clean Air Act emissions waivers issued to the state of California. Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, released the following statement:
“Senate Republicans just opened a Pandora’s Box that risks destabilizing the Senate. Tonight they voted to disregard clear legal requirements in their own statutes and rule book, jettison the judgment of the Senate’s referees, and sow long-term chaos so they could pass a brazenly corrupt handout to Big Polluters. It’s outrageous, dangerous, and reckless in the extreme.
“Despite what Senate Republicans are dishonestly claiming, there is no precedent or process stopping a majority from disregarding laws and rules any time it’s expedient. Senate Republicans have now set the stage to potentially do the same thing in service of adding nongermane, devastating policy provisions to their horrific reconciliation bill of tax handouts for the wealthy and cuts to our social safety net.
“Many of the same Republicans who refused for years to rewrite the rules lest the Senate become more like the House have just exposed their hypocrisy. The GOP won’t always be in the majority. Members who erode protections might want to remember that.”