Republicans Turn On One of Their Own: Anger Finally Boils Over On Tuberville
Senators want military promotions to resume
Republican senators finally are unloading on one of their own over his months-long blockade on the promotions of senior US military officers.
Their anger spilled out on the House floor Wednesday as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) considers an alternate mechanism to circumvent the hold Sen Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala) has on military promotions, which has now begun effecting hundreds of senior officers.
Tuberville is blocking the promotions over disagreement with the Biden administration policy of allowing US military personnel access to abortion services.
Schumer said on the Senate floor Wednesday that the Senate will consider a resolution in the near future that would allow the quick confirmation of the nearly 400 officers up for promotion or nominated for another senior job.
The Senate will circumvent Tuberville’s hold on military confirmations to vote on the top officers in the Air Force and Navy as well as the Marines’ second-in-command after the Corps commandant was hospitalized this weekend.
That includes Adm. Lisa Franchetti, nominated for chief of naval operations, whom Republican Sen Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, referred to when he fumed at Tuberville in remarks on the Senate floor.
If Tuberville believes Franchetti or other nominees did something illegal, he should go to court, Graham said.
She was not even involved in development of the abortion policy Tuberville objects to, Graham added.
“The Pentagon has issued a legal opinion I disagree with, saying this doesn’t violate the Hyde Amendment. I disagree with it. Here’s what’s gonna happen. You just denied this lady a promotion. You did that,” Graham told Tuberville. “All of us are ready to promote her because she deserves to be promoted. She had nothing to do with this policy.”
Further, Tuberville’s blockade is going to “open up Pandora’s box,” by setting precedent for a Democratic senator to do the same thing in the future when a Republican president issues a policy that they disagree with, Graham added.
Graham wasn't the only Republican willing to take Tuberville to task.
Sen Dan Sullivan, of Alaska, argued that Tuberville is using the tool of the Senate “hold” on nominees the wrong way.
“One of the things I've been talking to senator from Alabama on is, ‘All right, let’s put a halt on the undersecretary of defense for policy,’” Sullivan said. “He’s the guy! He’s a civilian and he’s in charge of this policy dispute! Let's put a hold on him, that’s the right guy, and squeeze 'em.
“But why are we putting a hold on war heroes?” Sullivan asked.
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