The Latest: Senate readies 'nuclear option' for Gorsuch vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Senate debate on Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch (all times local):

3:20 p.m.

The Senate is preparing to do away with the rule that requires 60 votes in the 100-member body for Supreme Court nominees. But Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says it will remain in place for legislation.

The barrier is in place for now for Supreme Court nominees, but McConnell made clear Tuesday that he will do away with it later this week, presuming Democrats filibuster President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch as expected.

That rules change, known as the "nuclear option," will then apply to future Supreme Court nominees, too. Some senators have predicted that it will later be applied to legislation.

But McConnell said there is no appetite for that and that it will not happen under his leadership.

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2:50 p.m.

The Senate has cleared the first procedural hurdle facing President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch.

Lawmakers voted 55-44 on Tuesday on a motion to proceed to debate. Only a simple majority was necessary.

The real fight is expected later this week when Republicans try to advance the nominee toward a final up-or-down vote.

Minority Democrats command more than enough votes to mount a filibuster. But rather than let the Democratic obstruction stand, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republicans plan to enact a unilateral rules change to eliminate the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees.

It would lower the vote threshold from the current 60 to a simple majority in the 100-member Senate.

McConnell told reporters he has the votes to change the rules.

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11 a.m.

Debate on President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee is under way, and Republican and Democratic leaders are casting blame.

Democrats have secured the votes to block the nomination, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is poised to change longstanding Senate rules to confirm Neil Gorsuch.

McConnell says the Democrats' blockade is unprecedented, because there's "never been a successful partisan filibuster of a Supreme Court nominee."

But Democrats point out that McConnell blocked former President Barack Obama's nominee for the court last year, saying the next president should have the say. Republicans didn't give Judge Merrick Garland a hearing or a vote.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said: "What the majority leader did to Merrick Garland by denying him a hearing and a vote is even worse than a filibuster."