Senate filibusters could affect B. Todd Jones' nomination
That agreement over filibusters in the United States Senate Tuesday could have implications for Minnesota's U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones.
Republicans have been blocking Obama administration nominees for government posts by requiring 60 votes before the nomination could be considered.
Democrats control 54 seats in the Senate and had threatened to change that chamber's rules to require just 51 votes for an executive branch nominee.
The situation had gotten out of hand, said Minnesota's DFL Sen. Al Franken.
"There were people that were being filibustered who no one had a problem with as a person," Franken said. "They just didn't like the agency he or she was appointed to. And that's not going to happen anymore, I really believe."
Republicans have agreed to allow seven major nominations through. Jones' nomination to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is not one of them, but he is likely to benefit from the Democrats' threat to change Senate rules if the president's nominees are blocked.
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