A bipartisan gang wants to nullify one of the defining characteristics of the Senate: its dysfunction.
Amid growing pressure to get rid of the obstruction – which progressives see as the cause of the House’s “cemetery” status – a group of 20 senators is trying to show that the Senate can still function and potentially avoid an impending stalemate over the fate of the 60 vote limit for most legislation.
“The bipartisan group is a really good nucleus of wanting to move the ball forward. … So if we do that, I think the pressure on Democrats to expel the obstruction will certainly dissipate, ”said the senator. Shelley Moore Capito
Shelley Wellons Moore CapitoSenate Republican Party seeks decision on Biden’s limits on funding the border wall The Dems’ momentum hits the mire over infrastructure plans Democratic centrists flex power in Biden legislation MORE (RW.Va.).
The gang is the latest entry into a long line of bipartisan groups that emerged at crucial moments in the Chamber’s history. And it can serve as a thermometer on whether it is still possible to close deals in an institution that is increasingly hampered by party headwinds.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann MurkowskiBorder scrambles Senate immigration debate Native groups expect Haaland’s historic confirmation to come with tribal victories The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Split screen: Biden sells stimuli; GOP highlights the border MORE (R-Alaska), who is running for re-election in 2022, said the group’s goal was to “build relationships” and be “problem solvers” in a divided Congress, including a 50-50 Senate.
“I think this bipartisan group of lawmakers is looking to see where we, as individual members, come together on a number of different issues, or maybe they are not policy issues, maybe they are rules issues. Where can we come together to build consensus, ”she said.
The group is discussing the potential for minor changes to the rules while looking for ways that could make it easier to get votes in the Senate floor without getting rid of the obstruction.
These potential changes could include obtaining an assurance that certain measures would win votes – such as amendments or bills that come out of the committee with an absolute majority of support.
“We should have amendments coming in, proceedings from the plenary and taking things to the plenary,” the senator. Joe Manchin
Joe ManchinFeinstein opens doors to support obstruction reform Night defense: Colin Kahl’s problematic appointment has just come up against another obstacle. Collins opposes Pentagon political candidate MORE (DW.Va.) said about the types of rule changes that the group is analyzing.
“Basically, everyone wants this place to work again. … I think there is a higher percentage in the Senate, on both sides, that wants something to happen, “added Manchin.
Members are not explicitly trying to save legislative obstruction. But they recognize that their success, or failure, can impact this separate debate.
Sen. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsOvernight Defense: Colin Kahl’s problematic appointment has just hit another hurdle. Collins opposes Pentagon policy candidate The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Biden fires 100 million shots in 58 days, shots to neighbors MORE (R-Maine) said the group did not discuss trying to preserve the obstruction at its most recent meeting – they are trying to meet every two Wednesdays – but added, “I think it would be the result of that.”
The group has 10 Republicans – the number Democrats need to break an obstruction in most Senate laws. Democrats do not have the 50 votes needed to remove the obstruction, which means that any agreement that passes the Senate, for now, will need the Republican Party to join.
The group has a history of breaking deadlocks.
Many of the senators were part of the so-called Coalition 908, which provided a framework that largely mirrored the coronavirus end-of-year agreement reached by Congressional leadership. And some of the same senators, along with members who have now departed, came close to getting 60 votes on an immigration deal in 2018 – although they fell short after intense resistance from the Trump White House.
Still, senators have a difficult job for them.
Democrats, who control both chambers in Congress and the White House for the first time in a decade, are pledging to enact a “bold” agenda, replete with radical changes in voting rights and climate change, among other issues. The patience among progressives to delay in the hope of obtaining bipartisanship is wearing thin.
It is not clear what the group’s next problem will be with Sen. Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyA new era for America’s children? ENERGY OF THE NIGHT: NOAA leader Obama joins the Biden White House on climate paper Study: Climate change could lower credit ratings in more than 60 countries | NASA climate official says the agency has “renewed emphasis” on practical scientific applications Haaland travels to Utah to visit shrunken monuments under Trump MORE (R-Utah) suggesting that they could create “subgroups” within the gang.
Capito is also one of the leading Republicans in infrastructure, a potential topic. She also contacted the White House on Thursday.
“It has been reiterated to me by the government that they seriously want an accepted product in which Republicans and Democrats can come together,” said Capito of the recent negotiations.
Democrats are also eyeing the use of reconciliation – a budgetary process that would allow them to get around obstruction – amid huge divisions over how to pay for spending on Democratic priorities. The White House is considering tax increases on high-income people and corporations that Republicans are opposed to.
“We haven’t decided yet, but it seems – it is likely that it is the Biden plan, called Build Back Better, that combines a lot of things”, the majority leader in the Senate Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerDemocrats make low-tax states an offer they should refuse Biden must keep his health promises. FEMA stops updating the flood insurance rate after Schumer’s resistance: report MORE (DN.Y.) said during an interview on the CBS show “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Stephen Tyrone ColbertThe Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Johns Hopkins University – USA marks anniversary of COVID’s blockades Colbert mimics Oprah-Meghan’s interview with Biden Fauci’s dogs to appear in Colbert to mark a year under a pandemic MORE. ”
Other possible areas of interest could be immigration – Collins led the 2018 proposal and Sen. Dick Durbin
Dick DurbinSunday shows the preview: the Biden administration fights against the increase of the border; US Regrets Shooting Victims in Atlanta Hillicon Valley: Senate Republicans Request Hearing on Obama-era Google FTC Decision | American network at increasing risk of cyber attack, says GAO | YouTube launches rival TikTok in the USA Elizabeth Warren: Filibuster ‘has deep roots in racism’ MORE (D-Ill.), One of the Democratic leaders on the subject, is involved in the group.
Senators could also try to revive a proposal for a bipartisan minimum wage, after the progressives preferred $ 15 an hour increase fell short. Another possibility is a bipartisan bill to combat China, something Schumer is interested in.
“We build relationships. People know each other a little better. We have people who want to expand, get bigger, more people want to get involved, ”said Manchin.
“The appetite for bipartisanship is great. The pressure against bipartisanship is also great, ”he added. “The end result is that we have to make the place work.”