U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville vs. all Senate Democrats – and as of now – five Republican Senators, who joined with them, in an attempt to confirm the military officer nominations being procedurally withheld by Tuberville in a stand against the Pentagon’s military abortion travel policy.
Across more than four hours of Senate proceedings, which went late night on Wednesday, Republican Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Todd Young (R-Ind), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) called for motions to vote on military officers one by one.
One by one, Sen. Tuberville stood and objected.
RELATED: Tuberville sets the record straight on Pentagon promotions
While all Republican Senators expressed a deep personal and political conviction against the Biden-era Department of Defense’s involvement in paying for servicemembers’ abortions and their related travel expenses – they said the format Tuberville is using to bring an end to that policy is causing problems.
“The Republican party has been the pro-life party for half a century. We ought to be proud that we stand for life. We stand for the most vulnerable of our society, the unborn. I know my colleagues here share that conviction. The disagreement we’re having today is about tactics,” Tuberville said from the floor of the Senate.
WATCH:
Right now on the Senate floor: Sen. Lindsey Graham, Todd Young, Dan Sullivan, Joni Ernst, and Mitt Romney are trying to confirm by unanimous consent the military promotions that @TTuberville is blocking until the Pentagon stops funding the killing of unborn babies.
Coach is… pic.twitter.com/TLc0bUhjpB
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 1, 2023
“As a member of the Armed Services committee, as a U.S. Marine Corps colonel, I know – we all know here in the Senate – America needs to have our best players, our most combat-capable leaders on the field. And right now, that’s not happening. It needs to change,” Sen. Sullivan (R-Alaska) said.
RELATED: Tuberville: ‘Keep politics out of the military’
Sen. Mitt Romney claimed the holds were “an abuse of the powers we have as senators.”
“I rise out of great concern for our military, for its readiness at a time of great peril, but also out of concern for the men and women who are being held up, and whose careers and prospects and families and plans are being interrupted by the virtue of the decision of, in this case, two people, one Secretary Austin and the other is Sen. Tuberville to take intractable positions,” Romney said.
Romney asked Tuberville if he would be satisfied with nonprofits, rather than the government, being the entity that finances the abortion-related care. He also said he would sign onto an amicus brief to challenge the legal foundation of the Pentagon’s policy.
RELATED: ‘Business as usual’: Tuberville affirms support from military
On Wednesday night, Tuberville said there is “zero chance” he will change course.
Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270
