Tuberville tries to force a vote on single military nomination as he continues blockade
CBSN
Washington — Sen. Tommy Tuberville is trying to force a vote this week on the commandant of the Marine Corps, as the Alabama Republican continues his blockade on hundreds of military promotions and confirmations.
On Tuesday, Tuberville received enough signatures to file what's known as a cloture petition on Gen. Eric Smith's nomination to become Marine Corps commandant, according to a source familiar with the situation. Smith is currently an assistant commandant. GOP Sen. John Kennedy also confirmed the existence of the cloture petition, and said he signed it.
Tuberville has been single-handedly stalling military promotions and confirmations in protest of a year-old Pentagon policy that helps fund service members' out-of-state travel for abortions. The hold is in its sixth month and now impacts more than 300 general and flag officers, including nominees to lead the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
