A bipartisan group of senators are quietly discussing possible changes to Senate rules in an effort to break the chamber’s growing legislative deadlock.
The discussions would see the legislative filibuster by 60 votes, who returned to the spotlight after throwing the key in a power-sharing deal and Sens. Joe Manchin
Joseph (Joe) Manchin Trump Censorship Faces Hard Chances In Senate Humanist Report Host Criticizes ‘Conservative Democrats:’ They ‘Have More Power’ Than Progressives McConnell: Sinema Told Me She Won’t Ignore Filibuster MORE (DW.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) Reiterated that they are not ready to get rid of it.
But senators involved in the talks are looking for ways to make it easier to get votes for bipartisan bills on the floor and get more votes on amendments, which have become increasingly rare in the Senate.
“We’re talking about some of those possibilities,” Sen. Tim Kaine
Timothy (Tim) Michael Kaine Trump’s censure faces tough chances in the Senate Schumer promises to continue the Trump trial despite setbacks. The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden Seeks Vaccine for Everyone in Summer; Trump disapproval? LAKE (D-Va.) Told The Hill, noting that the talks were between Democrats as well as with Republicans.
Her. Mike Rounds
Mike Rounds Senate GOP Indicates Trump Will Likely To Acquire Second Time The Memo: Chances Reced Of GOP Breaking Trump The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden: Focus On Vaccine, Virus, Travel MORE (RS.D.), who is involved in the talks, said there was “interest in at least seeing the Senate actually function as it used to.”
“I think it would be healthy if the Senate were able to find a way – at least on a pilot project for lack of a better term – to test whether or not we could be responsible members who have run out. Least significant amendments would get a limited basis, ”said Rounds.
Senators involved in the negotiations stressed that they were not close to a deal, noting that the time probably would not be right before President Trump
Donald Trump FBI says California extremist may have targeted Newsom House Democrat recommends resolution to expel Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congressional Facebook to call back political content on the platform.second impeachment trial, which begins February 9.
While Democrats want to act quickly on coronavirus control, most of the legislation is not delayed until after the procedure.
Her. Ben Cardin
Benjamin (Ben) Louis Cardin Lawmakers say bipartisan legislation is the key to economic recovery. The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden Seeks Vaccine for Everyone by Summer; Trump disapproval? On The Money: GOP Digs Into Defending Trump Tax Cuts | Democrats optimistic about raising the minimum wage | Financial sector braces for the choice of Biden’s consumer agency MEER (D-Md.) Said senators were trying to see if there was a two-pronged way to make it easier to get bills on the ground.
“There are ways we would like to change the flooring procedure but not necessarily get rid of the filibuster,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is get two-tier bills on the ground, with guaranteed changes and measures.”
He added that there was a twofold interest in finding ways to avoid wasting time on motions to proceed, a first procedural step towards a bill being voted on, and clearing bills held up by one or two senators. Under Senate rules, a single senator can continue a debate or stop a vote unless the leadership is willing to use valuable time to defeat the senator.
Neither leader of the majority leader in the senate Charles Schumer
Chuck Schumer Former DHS chiefs blow up Republicans for holding back Binden nominee Mayorkas. How will an impeachment lawsuit unite Americans? Humanist Report host criticizes ‘Conservative Democrats:’ They ‘have more power’ than progressives MORE (DN.Y.) nor minority leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell House Democrat Recommends Resolution To Eject Marjorie Taylor Greene From Congress Bringing America Back From The Edge Senate GOP Slow-Running Biden’s Choice To Lead DHS MORE (R-Ky.) Are actively involved in the discussions, although Sen. Dick Durbin
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Schumer said at a press conference on Tuesday that he wanted to improve the functioning of the Senate, but did not specifically commit to accepting changes.
“Look, we hope we can get a more open process. Under Leader McConnell it is completely closed. We have hardly made any laws. The House sent more than 260 small bills and none of them saw the light of day. We want to have a more open process, ”said Schumer.
Durbin, who is involved in the talks, said there had been back and forth, but they were nowhere near “any conclusion on what to do”.
“It started with a Zoom conference in the Democrats that I called, and then very quickly [Sen.] Jeff Merkley
Jeff MerkleyBiden Expands Obama’s Ethical Pledge Biden Signs Executive Order Invoking 2-Year Lobby Ban for Appointees K Street Navigates Virtual Inauguration Week MORE got in, ”said Durbin.
Her. Roy Blunt
Roy Dean Blunt Trump censure faces tough odds in Senate Senate GOP boxes itself in over impeachment Only five GOP senators vote Trump impeachment process is constitutional MORE (R-Mo.), A member of the GOP leadership and the top Republican on the Senate committee, said he was aware of the negotiations but had not yet decided whether they had enough grip to get involved.
“I have not yet decided whether it is worth participating,” he said.
“I spent a lot of time on this, especially when Senator Schumer and I were the chairman and leader for Rules and he was never willing to do any of these things that would clear the initial hurdle of 60 votes or anything like that, Blunt added.
The attempt to see if an agreement can be reached on smaller changes to Senate rules comes because Democrats currently don’t have the votes to override the legislative filibuster. Democrats have 50 seats, but Manchin and Sinema are both openly against ending the legislative filibuster. Several others are reluctant to take such a step.
When asked about the opposition from Manchin and Sinema, Merkley (D-Ore.), Who supports the 60-vote ignoring of the legislative filibuster, said he was gathering input on how to make the senate more functional.
Part of that is an attempt to reinstate the amendment for Democrats and Republicans alike to have a faster path to bipartisan bills that can be dealt with on the ground … and we’ll just see where that all leads ,” he said.
There is widespread frustration within the Senate at how a handful of senators have increasingly hindered the ability to get amendments to the few bills that do receive debate and votes on the Senate floor.
One idea being debated is that bills that receive some level of support within the committee could receive an outright up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. Senators are also interested in trying to get a guarantee on a certain number of amendments for each party.
“We’re actually talking within the caucus, but also with the Republicans, can bills that come through committees that are considerably bipartisan get a guaranteed vote? … Can we have an agreed change process? Kaine said.
Kaine added that the talks had been going on since December, but that he expected them to “pay off” after the Senate got past Trump’s second impeachment trial.
Rounds acknowledged that there was widespread frustration among senators with the current state of the senate, but cautioned it will not be easy to strike a deal.
“There’s a reason it hasn’t been done before,” said Rounds. “There are pitfalls, and we are trying to work our way through them.”