Deirdre Shesgreen

USATODAY

President Trump suggested in a puzzling tweet on Tuesday that the Senate should “switch” its rules to allow health care and tax reform to pass with a simple majority of 51 votes.

But there is no need for the Senate to do this. Senate GOP leaders are already planning to use special budget rules to consider both of those legislative priorities, so they can avoid the threat of a Democratic filibuster and push tax reform and health care through with 51 “yes” votes.

And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has already ruled out doing away with the filibuster for other legislation, fearing that would change the deliberative nature of the Senate and come back to haunt Republicans if they lose control of the chamber.

Later on Tuesday, Trump spokesman Sean Spicer the president was frustrated with the pace of legislation in the Senate, but that the decision would be "ultimately be up to Sen. McConnell."

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