Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who has blocked more than 360 military promotions and created a stalemate that occupied the Senate for months, said the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East were “created” by Democrats. ‘ he claimed.
“They need to worry about what’s going on in Ukraine and the Middle East and the wars that their own side, the Democrats and Joe Biden have started, but you know, they want to get around the Senate rules. No.” Tuberville told Newsmax’s Bianca de la Garza on Friday..
Democrats are considering using standing orders resolutions to sway more than 300 military candidates stalled over Tuberville’s protests over DOD abortion policies.
The resolution would allow the Senate to proceed with the promotion until the end of 2024, and would first have to pass through the Senate Rules Committee.
Tuberville opposes the Pentagon’s policy of paying travel expenses for military personnel who take time off for abortions. Several members of the Republican conference support his protest.
Tuberville expressed concern that the resolution would strip him of the limited powers he has as a minority member in the Senate.
“The only power the minority has is that it can hold something to the other party’s attention, whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat,” he said.
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Tuberville is calling for a vote on the policy, saying if it passes, “we will do what the American people chose.”
The resolution, introduced by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), would need strong bipartisan support and at least 60 votes to overcome an expected filibuster.
One lawmaker said there would be intense political backlash against Republican senators who sided with Democrats on the issue.
The bill has already faced strong opposition from other conservatives in the Republican conference, and Democrats will have a hard time finding the nine votes needed to pass it. Tuberville said Democrats who are working with President Biden to pass the bill are “playing dictators in the White House.”
“Bianca, this administration has ruined everything about our country,” Tuberville said. “They’ve been ruining everything in the world since they came in. It’s a disaster.”
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