Nuclear Option?

In a party-line vote, Republicans agreed on Thursday to end the 60-vote threshold for confirming Supreme Court nominees.

The move resulted from a vote on Monday in which Senate Democrats secured the votes needed to filibuster Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.

Breaking a filibuster under the old U.S. Senate rules required a 60-vote majority. Exercising a move pundits have dubbed "the nuclear option", Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called for a change to the Senate rules that would allow a filibuster debate to be ended by a simple 51 vote majority.

NH Senators Maggie Hassan (D) and Jeanne Shaheen (D) both voted against the rule change.

"Supreme Court decisions affect millions of Americans, and it is critical that justices are committed to protecting the rights of each and every American citizen, not just big corporations. Nominees should be able to clear a 60-vote threshold," Sen. Hassan said in a statement.

Those speaking in support of the rules change included Hassan's predecessor, former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte. "[Democrats] are blocking this exceptionally qualified nominee leaving Republicans no choice. They are in a situation where if you are going to block Neil Gorsuch, that means you will block anyone the Republicans nominate."

A final confirmation vote on Gorsuch is expected Friday.

Do you agree with the recent U.S. Senate decision to require only 51 votes to confirm Supreme Court nominees, instead of 60? Leave a comment below to join the discussion, and we'll present your thoughts to legislators considering this issue. Only comments from NH residents will be counted, so please indicate if you are from NH in your response.