(ConservativeSense.com) – For the second time this month, Republican colleagues of Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) attempted once again to maneuver around his blockade of military promotions and failed, ABC News reported.
Led by Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Republicans remained on the floor of the Senate into the early hours of Thursday morning, sharing stories of military heroes to make the case for the Senate to approve the promotions.
Over 400 military promotions have been in limbo due to Senator Tuberville’s objection to approving the nominations through unanimous consent over his objection to the Pentagon’s abortion policy.
From midnight until 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, Senators Sullivan and Ernst recounted the bravery and valor of dozens of military personnel. However, the tactic failed to persuade the Alabama Republican to lift his blockade.
Speaking from the Senate floor, Senator Sullivan said he was there not out of anger but out of “sadness and frustration.” He said he had spoken with service members who said Tuberville’s blanket hold has created a “readiness issue” that impacts the entire US military.
Senator Ernst decried Tuberville’s hold as punishing those “who have seriously sacrificed for America” over an abortion policy “they had nothing to do with.” She said if Tuberville continued to hold up the 450 promotions, it would be a “detriment to readiness.”
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and Indiana Senator Todd Young joined their Republican colleagues in their floor effort.
Thursday’s effort was complicated after Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee voiced his support for Tuberville.
Lee said he joined Tuberville’s effort not because he agreed with him but to defend Tuberville’s power under the Senate rules to single-handedly block unanimous consent.
Tuberville has used his objection to block unanimous consent approval for hundreds of military promotions for over nine months over his opposition to the Pentagon policy to compensate female military personnel who must travel out of state to obtain an abortion.
The Alabama Republican has argued that the Pentagon policy violates the Hyde Amendment by using taxpayer money to fund abortions.
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