Graham threatens alliance with Democrats to end Tuberville’s holds

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November 16, 2023

Several Republican senators again implored U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville into the early hours of Thursday morning to lift his blockade on military promotions.

“If you do not believe these holds aren’t having an effect on the military, I don’t question your sincerity. I question your judgment,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on the floor of the Senate Wednesday night. “If this continues, this is one of the worst self-inflicted wounds in 20 years. We’re taking the military and throwing it in the ditch.”

Tuberville (R-Auburn) continues to objected to unanimous consent of military promotions over the Department of Defense’s policy of paying for travel expenses for members of the military seeking an abortion.

“There are people filling jobs today that are waiting to go to their assignment, and they can’t get there because they can’t get promoted,” Graham continued. “They’re paying two house payments, not one. Their children don’t know what school they’re gonna go to. They deserve better than this.”

Tuberville got some backup from U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who also objected to this latest attempt to push the nominee through.

“We’ve been asked the question over and over again, why punish the innocent?” Lee said on the Senate floor. “Indeed, why punish the innocent? You know who’s innocent? Babies. You know who doesn’t have a voice in the Senate? Babies. You know who can’t speak for themselves? Babies. How many future admirals are going to be aborted by this policy by the Pentagon itself?”

The feeling is mutual, @BasedMikeLee. https://t.co/eNC3ANTzgB

— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) November 16, 2023

Some Democrats are already working to get around Tuberville’s blockade by changing the rules of the Senate. The Senate Rules Committee approved a resolution on a partisan vote to temporarily allow the upper chamber to approve some of the military nominations.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will bring the resolution to the full Senate floor if Republicans can’t convince Tuberville to lift his holds. Democrats would need 60 votes to get the measure passed.

“There has been a lot of negativity and dysfunction in the Senate these days,” Schumer said, “But Senator Tuberville has singlehandedly brought the Senate to a new low. He should be ashamed of himself.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee