Chair: UNDER THE PRECEDENT SET BY THE SENATE TODAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013,THE THRESHOLD FOR CLOTURE ON NOMINATIONS, NOT INCLUDING THOSE
OF THE SUPREME COURT OF UNITED STATES, IS NOW A MAJORITY. THAT
IS THE RULING OF THE CHAIR.
Senator McConnell then appealed the ruling of the chair and asked for the yeas and nays.
MR. McCONNELL: MAKE A POINT OF ORDER THAT NOMINATIONS ARE FULLY
DEBATABLE URPD THE RULES OF THE SENATE UNLESS I WAS THERE OF
SENATORS CHOSEN AND SWORN HAVE VOTED TO BRING DEBATE TO A
CLOSE. UNDER THE PRECEDENT JUST SET BY THE SENATE, CLOTURE IS
INVOKED AT A MAJORITY. THEREFORE, I APPEAL THE RULING OF THE
CHAIR AND ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.
At 12:35, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the question: Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the Senate?
Decision of the Chair: a vote on cloture for all nominations (other than for the Supreme Court) is by majority vote.
Sustained: 52-48