The Kentucky Republican defended the 60-vote limit on legislative obstruction in a plenary speech, warning Democrats that if they changed the rules of the obstruction, it would not open up an express way for the Biden government to move forward on its agenda. Instead, Republicans would use all the rules and options at their disposal to interrupt the chamber, making the Senate “more like a 100-car pileup, nothing moving.”
The majority Whip Dick Durbin told reporters that he is not concerned about McConnell’s threats to slow the Senate if Democrats change the obstruction because “he has already done so”.
McConnell also laid out the conservative agenda that Republicans would move forward quickly the next time they take control of Congress and the White House, most of which Democrats would vehemently oppose – how to eliminate planned Parenthood funding.
The pendulum would swing both ways “and swing strong,” he warned.
McConnell listed some of the laws that his party would adopt when they returned to power.
“Not only would we erase all the liberal changes that are hurting the country – we would strengthen the United States with all kinds of conservative policies with zero, zero contributions on the other side,” he said, pointing out how the Republican Party would move quickly to the sanctuary cities defund. and Planned parenthood, adding new protections for the right to life of the unborn child, working on hidden transport laws and a new era of domestic energy production. “
He also noted that when former President Donald Trump pressured Republicans to remove the obstruction, Democrats rebelled.
“My colleagues and I refuse to kill the Senate for instant gratification,” he said.
McConnell also asked whether Democrats really believe that the election of President Joe Biden and a 50-50 Senate is a sign that the American people want radical change.
“Does anyone really believe that the American people were voting for an entirely new system of government by electing Joe Biden to the White House and a 50-50 Senate? This is a 50-50 Senate. There was no mandate to completely transform America for the People. American on November 3. That may be what some liberal activists want, but does anyone believe that millions of Americans thought that was what they were electing? Of course not. “
In a plenary speech, Durbin strongly resisted the Republican leader’s warnings, arguing that it was McConnell’s abuse of the obstruction that led to the Democrats’ frustration and desire to get rid of it.
“When Senator McConnell and others come to the room and beg us to continue with the Senate’s traditions, I would say that their interpretation of the traditions is strangling this body,” he said, noting how many Democrats are frustrated by the current state of procedure that makes it extremely difficult to pass comprehensive legislation.
“If I was skeptical about the obstruction, it’s because of your use of it,” said the Illinois Democrat, speaking directly to McConnell. “And I hope you understand that you cannot have both. It cannot be a rare procedure and it can be a procedure that dominates the real business of the Senate as it has been doing for so many years.”