GOP rep: Get rid of ‘stupid’ Senate rules

Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) said the GOP is having trouble carrying out its agenda because of “stupid” Senate rules.

“Get rid of the filibuster rule,” Duffy said on “Fox & Friends.”

“You only need 51 votes. Get rid of it.”

Duffy was pressed on whether he was willing to do that if Democrats are in the majority.

“Democrats are going to do it anyway when they have the majority,” Duffy said.

{mosads}”They’re going to get rid of it when they have the majority. We might as well do it now and accomplish this agenda.”

Duffy said the American people want “us to accomplish this agenda.”

“And we’re not getting it done because of stupid Senate rules,” he said.

President Trump earlier this year called for the Senate to end the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to break, and allow legislation to pass with a simple majority.

He said in a May tweet the change would help his agenda to pass “fast and easy,” adding that Democrats would do it “no doubt.”

Duffy’s comments come as the Senate seeks to pass healthcare reform legislation. But with 52 GOP members of the upper chamber, Republicans can only afford two defections and still get to the 51 votes needed to pass the bill with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Pence.

So far, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have both spoken out against the healthcare proposal.