The Associated Builders and Contractors said it was not happy with the decision of Senate Democratic Thursday leadership to modify the body’s rules regarding conformation votes on some presidential appointees.

After months of seeing many President Barack Obama’s judicial nominees idled by filibusters, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pushed through a rules change allowing a simple majority to approve many nominations to cabinet posts and federal judgeships. Previous, such positions required the approval of 60 senators to overcome a filibuster threat.

"Senator Reid made the unfortunate decision to use the so-called nuclear option to break Senate rules to achieve a partisan political victory,” said ABC Vice President of Government Affairs Geoff Burr. “Unfortunately, it will be Americans who have to live with the fallout of his decision, which opens the door to controversial nominees for important federal offices and will no doubt increase the proliferation of legislation that would negatively impact the merit shop construction industry."