Democrats block Gorsuch vote; rules change is next step
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. speaks to reporters just outside the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 5, 2017, after he ended a 15 hour all-night talk-a-thon as the Senate heads toward a showdown over the confirmation vote for Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
In this photo taken on, Tuesday, April 4, 2017, the Capitol in seen from the Supreme Court Building in Washington. A Democratic senator held the Senate floor through the night and was still going Wednesday in an attention-grabbing talk-a-thon highlighting his party’s opposition to President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 4, 2017, about the struggle to move Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch toward a final up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
In this frame grab from video provided by Senate Television, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. speaks on the floor of the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Merkley held the Senate floor through the night and was still going in an attention-grabbing talk-a-thon highlighting his party’s opposition to President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch. (Senate Television via AP)
FILE - In this March 21, 2017 file photo, Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. A divided Senate Judiciary Committee backed Gorsuch, Monday, April 3, 2017. GOP likely to change Senate rules to confirm him. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, wraps up the meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, April 3, 2017, after his panel voted along party lines on the nomination of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats have blocked President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court.
The Senate voted 55-45 to successfully filibuster the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch. Republicans are planning to unilaterally change Senate rules to remove a 60-vote filibuster requirement for Gorsuch and all future Supreme Court nominees, reducing it to a simple majority in the 100-member Senate.
Democrats opposing Gorsuch say they believe he would favor corporations over workers and would be on the far right of the court.
They are angry over the Republican blockade last year of President Barack Obama’s nominee for the same seat, Merrick Garland.
If confirmed, Gorsuch will fill the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February 2016, 14 months ago. Gorsuch was approved unanimously by the Senate a few years ago for his current position as an appellate judge.