A bipartisan group of senators is quietly discussing possible changes to Senate rules in an effort to break the House’s growing legislative stalemate.
The discussions would not destroy the 60-vote legislative obstruction, which came back into the spotlight after it disrupted a power-sharing and Sens deal. Joe Manchin
The censorship of Joseph (Joe) ManchinTrump faces difficulties in the host of the Senate Humanist Report criticizes ‘conservative Democrats:’ They ‘have more power’ than progressives McConnell: Sinema told me it will not nullify the obstructionist MORE (DW.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) Reiterated that they do not support ending this.
But the senators involved in the negotiations are looking for ways to make it easier to get votes for bipartisan bills in the plenary and how to get more votes on amendments, which has become increasingly rare in the Senate.
“We are talking about several of these possibilities”, the senator Tim Kaine
The censorship of Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineTrump faces difficult adversities in the Senate. Schumer promises to move ahead with Trump’s trial despite the setback The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden seeks vaccine for everyone by summer; Trump’s censorship? MORE (D-Va.) I told The Hill, noting that negotiations were taking place between Democrats, but also with Republicans.
Sen. Mike Rounds
Mike RoundsSenate GOP signals that it is likely to acquit Trump for the second time The Memo: Chances to retreat from GOP breaking with Trump The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden: Focus on vaccine, virus, travel MORE (RS.D.), who is involved in the negotiations, said there was “an interest in at least seeing the Senate actually work the way it did in the past.”
“I think it would be healthy for the Senate to find a way – at least in a pilot project for lack of a better mandate – to test whether or not we could be responsible members who would get relevant amendments at least on a limited basis,” he said. Rounds.
The senators involved in the negotiations stressed that they are not close to an agreement, stressing that the moment would probably not be favorable until President Trump
Donald TrumpFBI says California extremists may have targeted the Newsom House Democrat in a resolution to expel Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress Facebook to reduce political content on the MORE platformThe second impeachment trial, which is scheduled to begin on February 9.
Although Democrats want to move quickly toward coronavirus relief, most legislation is on hold until after the process.
Sen. Ben Cardin
Benjamin (Ben) Louis CardinLawmakers say bipartisan legislation is critical to economic recovery The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden seeks vaccine for everyone by summer; Trump’s censorship? On The Money: GOP investigates in defense of Trump’s tax cuts | Optimistic Democrats on Minimum Wage Increase | Financial sector must choose MORE (D-Md.) He said that senators were trying to see if there was a bipartisan way of making it easier for bills to be presented to the floor.
“There are ways in which we would like to modify the floor procedure, but not necessarily get rid of the obstruction,” he said. “What we are trying to do is bring the bipartisan bills to the floor, with amendments and guaranteed actions.”
He added that there was bipartisan interest in trying to find ways to avoid wasting time on motions to proceed, a first procedural step for a bill to be voted on, as well as releasing bills that are suspended by one or two senators. Senate rules allow a single senator to drag a debate or interrupt a vote, unless the leadership is willing to use precious time to defeat the senator.
No Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerFormer DHS heads Republicans for stalling Binden candidate Mayorkas. How will an impeachment trial unite Americans? The host of the Humanist Report criticizes ‘conservative Democrats:’ They ‘have more power’ than progressive MORE (DN.Y.) nor GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHouse Democrat proclaims resolution to expel Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress Bringing America back from the brink The Republican Party has slowly wandered over Biden’s choice to lead DHS MORE (R-Ky.) They are actively involved in the negotiations, although Sen. Dick Durbin
Dick Durbin’s censorship faces tough adversities in Senate On The Money: GOP investigates in defense of Trump’s tax cuts | Optimistic Democrats on Minimum Wage Increase | Financial sector prepares to choose Biden Sen’s consumer agency. Patrick Leahy returns home after being hospitalized MORE (D-Ill.), Schumer # 2, said the Democratic leader was informed.
Schumer, during a press conference on Tuesday, said he wanted to improve the Senate’s functioning, but did not specifically commit to accepting changes.
“Look, we hope to achieve a more open process. Under leader McConnell, it was closed entirely. We hardly legislate. The Chamber sent more than 260 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 negotiations, said there was talk from side to side, but that they were not close to “any conclusion on what to do next”.
“It all started with a zoom conference on the Democrats that I convened and then very quickly Jeff Merkley
Jeff MerkleyBiden expands on Obama’s ethical promise. Biden signs executive order invoking a 2-year lobbying ban for nominees K Street navigates virtual opening week MORE [D-Ore.] intervened, ”said Durbin.
Sen. Roy Blunt
Roy Dean BluntTrump’s censorship faces difficulties in the Senate Senate The Republican Party closes on impeachment Only five senators vote Trump on the impeachment trial is constitutional MORE (R-Mo.), A member of the Republican Party leadership and the main Republican on the Rules Committee, said he was aware of the negotiations, but had not yet decided whether they were strong enough for him to get involved.
“I have not yet decided whether there is merit in getting involved,” he said.
“I spent a lot of time on this, especially when Senator Schumer and I were the President and senior member of the Rules and he was never willing to do any of those things that would break the barrier of the first 60 votes or something,” Blunt added.
The effort to see if there is an agreement to be made on minor changes to the Senate rules is because Democrats currently do not have the votes to prevent legislative obstruction. Democrats have 50 seats, but Manchin and Sinema are publicly opposed to ending legislative obstruction. Several others are hesitant to take this step.
Asked about Manchin and Sinema’s opposition, Merkley, who supports the lifting of the 60-vote legislative obstruction, said he was collecting information on how to make the Senate more functional.
“Part of that is an effort to restore the amendment so that Democrats and Republicans have a faster way for bipartisan projects to be considered in the plenary … and we’ll see where it all leads,” he said.
There is great frustration within the Senate over how a handful of senators have increasingly obstructed the ability to get amendments to vote on the few bills that generate debate and vote in the Senate floor.
One idea that is being discussed is that bills that get a certain level of support in the committee can receive a direct vote up or down in the Senate floor. Senators are also interested in trying to get a guarantee for each side to have a certain number of votes to amend.
“In fact, we are talking within the caucus, but also with the Republicans about the bills that pass through committees that are significantly bipartisan have a guaranteed vote. … We can have an agreed amendment process, ”said Kaine.
Kaine added that the talks have been going on since December, but that he hopes they will “bear fruit” after the Senate passes Trump’s second impeachment trial.
Rounds acknowledged that there is great frustration among senators about the current state of the Senate, but warned that reaching an agreement will not be easy.
“There is a reason this has not been done before,” said Rounds. “There are pitfalls and we are trying to overcome that.”