Republicans plan 30-hour talkathon to protest 'nuclear option' use in Senate

[flowers]

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/192823-senate-gop-plan-30-hour-plus-talkathon-to-protest-nuclear-option

Senate Republicans will stage a more than 30-hour talkathon on the Senate floor to protest Democrats’ triggering of the "nuclear option" last month.

The GOP protest, which could extend into the weekend, will throw a wrench in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) hopes of wrapping up legislative business for 2013 as soon as possible.

Republicans will delay a final vote on Cornelia Pillard, one of President Obama’s picks for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, until about 1 a.m. Thursday.

Then, Senate Republicans will hold the floor throughout the night, speaking out against Reid’s use of the nuclear option. Reid invoked the controversial tactic before Thanksgiving to strip Republicans of the power to filibuster judicial and executive branch nominees. The rules change did not affect Supreme Court picks.

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“When you blow up the Senate rules, there has to be a consequence,” said a Republican senator.

“We’ll stretch this into the weekend if need be,” said the GOP lawmaker.

A GOP source said that so far 36 senators have signed up for hour-long speaking slots on the Senate floor, which would tie up business until early Friday morning.

The tactic is similar to all-night talk sessions Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) held on the floor to protest the administration’s drone policy and the Affordable Care Act, respectively.

A Senate Democratic leadership aide said the GOP floor protest will not stop the Senate from voting on other nominees Thursday.

To late!