Schumer speaks on Senate floor on second day of shutdown

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Thursday blasted Republicans for unilaterally changing the chamber’s rules to speed up the confirmation of President Trump’s nominees. “This move by Republicans was not so much about ending obstruction, as they claim. Rather, it was another act of genuflection to the executive branch,” he said on the floor. The Senate voted 53–45, along party lines, to set a new precedent that most nominations can be confirmed “en bloc,” or in groups, rather than ha