(CNN) A bitterly divided Senate committee Wednesday approved on a party line vote changes to Senate rules that will allow the Republican majority to speed confirmations of most of President Donald Trump's nominees. But Republicans are also weighing using the "nuclear option" to force the change over the objection of Democrats. Such a move would further inflame Democrats because it would lower the threshold for a rule change to a simple majority. If adopted, the rule changes would lower from 30 hours to two hours the debate time allowed once a filibuster has been defeated. Senate Rules Chairman Roy Blunt, a Republican of Missouri who sponsored the measure, said Trump's nominees have faced 128 filibusters by Democrats, many more than the nominees of the several presidents before Trump did combined.

Source: CNN February 13, 2019 20:26 UTC