Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has filed cloture on three military nominations Wednesday in his first move to try and get around U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s hold on military promotions.
Tuberville (R-Auburn) has been blocking the Senate from voting for confirmation of all military promotions, but has insisted for weeks that Schumer could still bring up each nomination individually.
“I have just filed cloture on the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the commandant of the Marine Corp, and the army chief of staff,” Schumer said. “These men should have already been confirmed. They should already be serving in their new positions. The Senate should not have to go through procedural hoops just to please one brazen and misguided senator. But this is where we are.”
BREAKING: Chuck Schumer caves to @SenTuberville and announces that he is filing cloture on three of the military promotions that Tuberville has stopped via his block on the Senate's blanket vote to confirm hundreds of military appointments at once over the Pentagon funding… pic.twitter.com/JoAr5nJXFJ
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 20, 2023
Tuberville has been placing the hold in response to the Biden administration’s policy of providing paid leave and paying for travel expenses of military servicemembers seeking an abortion.
Schumer made the move after Tuberville threatened to bring a motion to the floor to force a vote on Gen. Eric Smith’s promotion to U.S. Marine Corps commandant.
Tuberville responded to Schumer’s move saying this is the action the Majority Leader “could’ve taken months ago.”
One of us was bluffing. It wasn't me.
Democrats are taking the same action they could've taken months ago. As long as the Pentagon keeps the unlawful elective abortion policy in place, my holds will remain. https://t.co/f497iygBDd
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) September 20, 2023
Alabama’s other senator also showed some support for Tuberville. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) said Schumer is ultimately to blame for these votes not happening sooner.
As I’ve said previously, Senator Schumer has the power to schedule votes on each of these nominees. Today’s move only confirms this has been true all along. https://t.co/S5XEN4hwrW
— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) September 20, 2023
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) said this is a big victory for Tuberville.
Schumer could have approved every military nominee by scheduling votes over the last several months, but he cared more about funding abortion travel than military readiness.
Major win for @SenTuberville! https://t.co/CUGmBxS1x0
— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) September 20, 2023
Schumer’s cloture sets up votes on Gen. Randy George to become chief of staff of the Army, Gen. Eric Smith to become the next commandant of the Marine Corps, and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles “C.Q.” Brown to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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
