WASHINGTON -- Vice President Joe Biden, long a defender of tradition in the United States Senate, said Thursday it might be time to change the institution's rules after Republicans blocked yet another one of President Barack Obama's nominees.
"I think it's worth considering," Biden said after the GOP nixed the appointment of Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) to oversee the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Biden presided over the session in his role as president of the Senate after swearing in the new New Jersey senator, Cory Booker (D).
Biden was asked specifically if the rules should be changed so that a simple majority of senators could confirm nominees. Normally, it takes three-fifths of the Senate, or 60 votes, if one party decides to obstruct someone.
The Senate changed its rules modestly at the beginning of the year to curb filibusters, and members agreed among themselves to be more judicious in their use of obstructionist tactics. But Democrats repeatedly have been forced to overcome filibusters since then, prompting them to consider a "nuclear option" rules-change over the summer.
The Senate typically sets its rules at the start of the year and it takes a two-thirds vote to change them. But under the nuclear option, or the constitutional option, the party in charge can use procedural maneuvers to set new precedents, then change the rules with a simple majority of 51.
Democrats decided against pursuing a rules change over the summer, after Republicans agreed not to block non-judicial appointments and helped move a handful of Obama's appointees.
That agreement did not hold with Watt, however, even with Biden presiding as senators voted.
"Mel Watt is absolutely, totally, thoroughly qualified, and it's a gigantic disappointment," Biden told reporters as he left later.
Republicans have argued that Watt is too political; they also blocked the last FHFA nominee, who was widely seen as non-partisan and well-qualified. The FHFA oversees the mortgage giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Later Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) seemed open to changing the rules.
“I will exercise my right as Majority Leader to reconsider these nominations at some point in the very near future," he said in a statement. "I hope my Republican colleagues will reconsider their continued run of unprecedented obstructionism. Something has to change, and I hope we can make the changes necessary through cooperation.”
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) sounded like he could be in Biden's camp.
"There's a tipping point," Durbin told reporters, refusing to go further. "There comes a tipping point."
Some of his colleagues, who have long argued for a change, suggested the latest blockades -- Republicans also blocked a federal judge nominee Thursday -- only highlight the problem.
But they didn't know if Reid would pull the trigger.
"We keep getting up to the edge of it, and then we make some, quote, gentleman's agreement ... and then you find out the gentleman's agreement doesn't hold," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who has pushed for filibuster reform for 16 years. "I've been so frustrated by it."
Likewise, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), one of the leaders of the recent pushes to change the rules, said he didn't know what Reid would do, but that it was time to do something.
"We believe advice and consent should not be the ability of a few folks to sabotage the functioning of the rest of Congress," Merkley said.
"We've had up and down votes on executive branch nominees without a single filibuster from 1949 until the end of the Carter administration," Merkley added. "That's a tradition that [Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell pledged himself to in January, and has now broken, and that's unacceptable."
Michael McAuliff covers Congress and politics for The Huffington Post. Talk to him on Facebook.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.