nearly every party line response to the problems we face in this body, every partisan action taken to protect a cherished value has led us to more division. not less. the impact is clear for all to see. the steady escalation of tit for tat in which each new majority weakens the guardrails of the senate and excludes input from the other party furthering resentment and anger amongst this body and our constituents at home. democrat s increased use of requiring culture for judicial nominees under president george w. bush led to similar tactics by republicans under president barack obama. the 2013 decision by senate democrats to eliminate the 60-vote threshold for most legislation nominations led directly to a response in 2017 by senate republicans, who