Trump: GOP ‘wasting time’ if they don’t get rid of filibuster

President Trump on Wednesday called for Senate Republicans to get rid of the legislative filibuster.

“If Republican Senate doesn’t get rid of the Filibuster Rule & go to a simple majority, which the Dems would do, they are just wasting time!” Trump tweeted Wednesday.

If Republican Senate doesn’t get rid of the Filibuster Rule & go to a simple majority, which the Dems would do, they are just wasting time!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2017

{mosads}It’s just the latest example of Trump calling for Senate Republicans to get rid of the filibuster, something that has irritated Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Last month, Trump specifically called out McConnell and pushed the GOP leader to end the filibuster and move toward passing legislation with a 51-vote majority.

“Republican Senate must get rid of 60 vote NOW! It is killing the R Party, allows 8 Dems to control country. 200 Bills sit in Senate. A JOKE!” Trump tweeted last month.

“The very outdated filibuster rule must go. Budget reconciliation is killing R’s in Senate. Mitch M, go to 51 Votes NOW and WIN. IT’S TIME!”

Earlier this month, McConnell reiterated that Republicans would not gut the 60-vote legislative filibuster despite public pressure from Trump.

“There are not the votes in the Senate, as I’ve said repeatedly to the president and to all of you, to change the rules of the Senate,” McConnell told reporters during a weekly leadership press conference. 

Much of the criticism of the filibuster from Trump came during the healthcare debate. Republicans didn’t need 60 votes on that bill because ObamaCare repeal was moving under special budgetary rules that negated the filibuster. Yet the GOP couldn’t win 50 votes on its repeal effort.