Trump calls on GOP to nix filibuster

by Brooke Seipel - 08/25/17 6:43 AM ET

President Trump early Friday morning doubled down on his calls for Senate Republicans to get rid of the legislative filibuster.

“If Senate Republicans don’t get rid of the Filibuster Rule and go to a 51% majority, few bills will be passed. 8 Dems control the Senate!” Trump tweeted Friday morning.

If Senate Republicans don’t get rid of the Filibuster Rule and go to a 51% majority, few bills will be passed. 8 Dems control the Senate!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017

Trump has been pressing Republicans to kill the filibuster for months, most recently upping the pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel (R-Ky.) to get rid of the option and secure Republicans’ ability to pass their agenda.

Last month, Trump specifically called out McConnell and pushed the GOP leader to end the filibuster and move toward passing legislation with a 51-vote majority.

Much of the criticism of the filibuster from Trump came during the healthcare debate. Republicans didn’t need 60 votes on that bill because ObamaCare repeal was moving under special budgetary rules that negated the filibuster. Yet the GOP couldn’t win enough votes on its repeal effort.

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