SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Former Iowa state Sen. Jim Carlin, the conservative Republican running for U.S. Senate in Iowa, demanded Thursday that Sen. Joni Ernst use the “nuclear option” to alter Senate rules and end the federal government shutdown now in its second day.
Carlin, a trial lawyer and U.S. Army veteran who served in the Iowa Legislature from 2017 to 2023, issued the call as the federal government remained closed following Congress’ failure to pass funding legislation by the Sept. 30 deadline. The shutdown has furloughed hundreds of thousands of federal workers and delayed services, including veterans’ benefits processing and national park access.
“Republicans have the power and the votes to invoke the nuclear option right now and change the Senate rules with a simple majority,” Carlin said. “They should do it without delay to end this shutdown and get the government back to work. If I were in there, I would do it today, and when elected, I will do it — no hesitation, no games.”
The maneuver, known as the nuclear option, would allow Republicans to sidestep the 60-vote filibuster threshold required to end debate on budget legislation under current rules. Senate Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, giving them the simple-majority power to alter precedents on procedural votes, as they did earlier this year to expedite President Donald Trump’s executive nominees.
According to Carlin, the filibuster, a Senate practice allowing extended debate to delay or block legislation, is not found anywhere in the Constitution. While it emerged in the early 19th century, the formal cloture rule to end such debate (requiring a two-thirds vote) was not adopted until 1917.
Carlin’s demand comes amid finger-pointing between the parties over the impasse. Democrats have accused Republicans of attaching partisan riders, including spending cuts to health programs, to a House-passed stopgap bill that failed in the Senate. Republicans, in turn, blame Democrats for blocking the measure over policy disputes.
“While politicians on both sides blame each other, the reality is that the Democrats are partially correct for once — the Republicans have the ability to change the rules with a majority vote and end the shutdown,” Carlin said. “We owe it to the American public, our military servicemembers and veterans to reopen the government. They need to stop playing games and get the government back to work.”
The shutdown’s impacts are mounting quickly. The Defense Department has exempted about 406,000 civilian employees to continue essential operations, but uniformed service members face delayed paychecks if unresolved by Oct. 15. Social Security payments are expected to continue, but new claims processing has halted.
“This isn’t about party loyalty or waiting for the perfect moment,” Carlin added. “It’s about leadership. Iowa deserves a senator who will fight for results, not excuses.”
Negotiations between congressional leaders resumed Monday, but no breakthrough has emerged. The last shutdown, from December 2018 to January 2019, lasted 35 days and cost the economy an estimated $11 billion.
To read some of Carlin’s endorsements, visit carlinforussenate.com/endorsements.
For more information, visit carlinforussenate.com.
About Jim Carlin:
Jim Carlin is Christian, husband, father and grandfather. He is a Constitutional conservative, U.S. Army veteran and former Iowa state senator running for U.S. Senate to replace incumbent Sen. Joni Ernst. Carlin is a Sioux City attorney, who served in the Iowa assembly from 2017-2023, fighting for America First policies like secure borders, fiscal responsibility and Second Amendment rights. Carlin voted for Iowa’s Constitutional carry law and opposes endless wars and wasteful spending. Committed to faith, family, freedom and limited government, Carlin pledges to put Iowa values first in Washington.
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