Tuberville’s Holds on Military Promotions Show Power of Senate Minority

While the House is majoritarian, the Senate is another ballgame. One where the minority has influence. Look no further than Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) speaks to reporters in the Senate Subway of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, on July 19, 2023. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

While the House is majoritarian, the Senate is another ballgame. One where the minority has influence.

Look no further than Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who has placed holds on around 300 U.S. military promotions due to the Pentagon policy of funding travel for female military personnel to get abortions—which violates Section 1093 of U.S. Code 10 that Department of Defense funding can’t be used for abortions except when the mother’s life is in danger or in cases of rape or incest.