GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellConservative group rips Toomey as ‘RINO’, highlighting GOP change Night defense: Capitol Police plans to reduce the fence | Tucker Carlson’s comment on women in the military continues | US attempts to restart negotiations with North Korea Xinjiang’s forced labor complex is growing – President Biden must work with Congress to restrict it MORE (Ky.) He offered a blunt warning to Democrats on Tuesday, amid increasing pressure to prevent legislative obstruction.
“Let me say this very clearly to all 99 of my colleagues: no one serving in this Chamber can even begin, can even begin, to imagine what a completely scorched earth Senate would be like,” said McConnell.
He added that in a chamber that operates on a day-to-day basis by consent, that is, all senators sign an action, “I want our colleagues to imagine a world where each task, each one, requires a physical quorum exam. ”
McConnell’s comments came a day after Sen. Dick Durbin
Dick DurbinNo. 2 Democratic Senate strikes obstruction Oregon senator takes center stage in Democratic obstructionist debate Republican strikes Biden relief project MORE (Ill.), Democratic Senate No. 2, offered a searing rebuke to the 60-vote legislative obstruction, comparing it to a “weapon of mass destruction” that was holding the Senate “hostage”.
Prohibiting legislative obstruction or reverting to “talking obstruction” – which would force senators to be physically in the plenary – has impetus with both outside groups and Democratic senators.
But the Senate majority leader Charles Schumer
New Yorkers’ Chuck SchumerHalf says Cuomo should not resign immediately: Stacey Abrams research: ‘I don’t think it is necessary to eliminate the obstructionist entirely’ Cuomo biographer: ‘Predatory behavior’ has been ‘evident for years’ MORE (DN.Y.) did not say whether he supports and Democrats do not currently have the votes to invoke the “nuclear option” to get rid of the obstruction in a party vote. Sens. Joe Manchin
Joe ManchinDems’ momentum hits the tide over infrastructure plans Conservative group says Toomey is’ RINO ‘, underscoring the move by the Republican Party that plans the first big tax hike in nearly 30 years: report MORE (DW.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema
Kyrsten SinemaOregon Senator takes center stage in the Democratic obstructionist debate Republican Party follows attack on Biden’s relief bill Group of restaurants receiving relief funds thanks Republican Party lawmakers who opposed the bill MORE (D-Ariz.) They are officially opposing it and others are seen as cautious.
But advocates of invoking the change in the rules argue that, with the legislative obstruction of 60 votes in effect, many of the President biden
Joe Biden’s Morning ReportThe Hill – Presented by Facebook – Split screen: Biden sells stimulus; The GOP points out that the border RNC will accompany Biden as he promotes the COVID-19 relief bill. Dems’ momentum hits the tide over infrastructure plansThe GOP’s big campaign pledges die when they reach the Senate because they need the support of 10 Republican senators.
McConnell warned that rejecting the obstruction would not result in a “quick process” for Biden’s agenda, but would instead create more impasse with Republicans promising to cause major headaches for Democrats in even the most mundane tasks in the Senate.
“So this is not a trade-off between trampling the label and then transforming the country quickly. This is a false choice. Even the most basic aspects of our colleagues’ agenda, the most mundane task of the Biden presidency, would actually be more difficult and not easier, “said McConnell.
“This chaos would not open an expressway for liberal change. It would not open an expressway for Biden’s presidency to go quickly into the history books. The Senate would be more like a pile of 100 cars, nothing moving.” he added.
In 2011, McConnell is the then Senate majority leader Harry Reid
Harry Mason ReidOregon Senator takes center stage in Democratic obstructionist debate Manchin cementing key vote status in Senate Biden 50-50 under pressure to get 400 payments quickly MORE (D-Nev.) A “gentlemen’s agreement” was reached in which Republicans would limit their obstructions if Reid agreed to open the floor for further amendment votes.
In 2013, Democrats used the nuclear option to end obstruction in the lower courts and in most executive appointments.
Four years later, with the majority, Republicans in the Senate ended the use of the 60-vote obstruction in Supreme Court nominations, a measure that helped President Trump
Donald Trump’s Morning ReportThe Hill – Presented by Facebook – Split screen: Biden sells stimulus; The Republican Party points out that frontier Democrats move smaller immigration projects while seeking a broad overhaul The social media platforms on the right cannot keep up with post-January. 6 growth MORE add three judges to the court.
McConnell had previously rejected conversations from within his own caucus, as well as public calls from then President Trump, to prevent legislative obstruction.
But, in a warning shot to Democrats, he drew up a long list of conservative policies that could be passed the next time Republicans take over the camera: Defunding Planned Parenthood and so-called “sanctuary cities”, anti-abortion legislation and hidden reciprocity all over the country.
“Then the pendulum … would swing both ways, and swing strong,” he added.
—Updated at 1:27 pm