Senate Republicans Weigh Rules Changes to Speed Nominees in Fall

Senate Republicans are eyeing changes to the chamber’s rules this fall that would make it easier to approve President Donald Trump’s nominees without any cooperation from Democrats.

The Senate process for confirming routine nominations is “broken,” Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters on Saturday, adding that lawmakers will continue to talk over August recess about how to improve it. Republicans seem increasingly ready to do away with long-standing Senate rules that give the minority party some room to slow walk nominees and tie up action on the floor often for hours — or even days — at a time. ...