Congressman John Carter (R-TX31) is releasing the following statement regarding the Senate invoking the “nuclear option,” changing Senate rules on the filibuster for most presidential nominations:

“The Senate Democrats' consequential decision to trigger the ‘nuclear option’ not only continues to foster a political environment of distrust and division, but alters nearly 225 years of precedent.  Harry Reid has continued to muddy the water and widen the gap between parties. It is this kind of hypocritical behavior that has created the deadlock that we are dealing with in Congress now. Sadly the President and the Senate markedly weakened the founding fathers’ vision of checks and balances today.”

The rule change would allow federal judge nominees and executive-office appointments to be confirmed by a simple majority vote, instead of a 60 vote majority.