Fight over the rules grinds the Senate to a halt, imperiling Biden's legislative agenda

[BainsBane]

This pisses me off. The Dem Senate is trying to make nice with the GOP Senators, who have spent their careers ensuring Democrats could accomplish nothing. Not only that, they obstructed during the transition and promoted lies. The Dems need to exert control and stop trying to work out a cooperative agreement with the GOP.

When President Biden took office last week, he promised sweeping, bipartisan legislation to solve the coronavirus pandemic, fix the economy and overhaul immigration.

Just days later, the Senate ground to a halt, with Democrats and Republicans unable to agree on even basic rules for how the evenly divided body should operate. . . .


This reality could force Democrats to choose within a matter of weeks whether they will continue to pursue the sort of bipartisan cooperation that Biden — and many senators of both parties — have preached, or whether to pursue procedural shortcuts or rule changes that would sideline the GOP but also are likely to divide their caucus. . . .

Much of the current conflict over the Senate rules comes courtesy of veteran Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who transitioned to minority leader Wednesday after six years as majority leader.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-gridlock-threatens-biden-agenda/2021/01/23/6119e512-5cf3-11eb-b8bd-ee36b1cd18bf_story.html

McConnell is manipulating Democrats over Biden's calls for unity, and the Senate Dems are falling for it.

[Bev54]

1. Correction - McConnell is trying to manipulate dems, it will not work

Wait and see

[bluestarone]

2. If there were EVER a time for the DEMS. to STICK together 100% it's

Fucking NOW!!!!! Do NOT let Moscow control anything!!!!!!!!

[servermsh]

3. Schumer can end it at any time with the nuclear option on the organizing resoution

They could have done it last week. They chose not to. Schumer needs to do this Monday and start moving.

We can't lose any time. We may not control the Senate in two years, and if we get unlucky, maybe not even until then.

[Demsrule86]

8. I don't think the nuclear option can be used for the rules.

[servermsh]

17. I don't see why not

Force the Repubs to filibuster while voting on the organizing resolution. Leader Schumer asks for a rule of the chair. Chair says filibuster is sustained. Schumer calls for a vote to appeal the rule of the chair. Majority vote wins. Schumer alters the organizing resolution to say filibuster doesn't apply to organizing resolutions. Filibuster left in place for ordinary legislation.

[Demsrule86]

32. If it were that easy it would have been done. I don't think the VP can vote for the rules...

[HUAJIAO]

4. Somebody call nancy.

[BainsBane]

5. No kidding

Nancy would deal with that crap in ten seconds flat.

[HUAJIAO]

26. LOLOLOL

[Demsrule86]

33. How? There is opposition to getting rid of the filibuster so you can't use the Nuclear option

to change the rules unless all 50 members of the Democratic Party agree.

[BainsBane]

36. They can decide to move through reconciliation

Besides, the filibuster isn't part of the rules being discussed. McConnell wants the Democrats to guarantee that they will not LATER use the nuclear option. I am categorically against giving McConnell and the GOP power over our legislation.

Nancy wouldn't tolerate the GOP bullshit.

[Tanuki]

6. McConnell said at the outset of the Obama administration that his

top priority was to make him a one-term president, and it looks like he will try to do the same with Biden.

[jaysunb]

7. Joe Manchin nt

[drray23]

10. nonsense.

Manchin has no issues with the rules. This set of rules does not call for removing the fillibuster.

[Demsrule86]

34. You could I think remove the filibuster in terms of the rules with a simple majority vote...the

nuclear option. This would leave the filibuster in place for legislation but if McConnell obstructed that could be changed. I expect in the end that is what McConnell will do.

[drray23]

14. These rules dont call for eliminating it.

The standoff is because McConnell wants those rules to say we wont remove it later, which of course Schumer is refusing to do.

[Crunchy Frog]

9. Couldn't they just park Kamala in the Senate for however long it takes?

Are there things that she could do as President of the Senate?

[BainsBane]

13. While the VP will have important other duties

The Senate seems pretty important to me.

[wryter2000]

28. I have always supported the filibuster

But the abuse of it has made it clear that Republicans will allow us to do nothing. This is a desperate time with a raging plague and huge numbers of people out of work and unable to meet their basic needs. We need action along the lines of what Yellen outlined in her hearings. The only way to do that is to get rid of the filibuster. Use the nuclear option now. We don't have any choice.

[Klaralven]

18. The thing that was missed in commentary on the election was that the Senate organized 1/3

The organization of the Senate for the next two years occurred back on January 3 when the Republicans had a 51 to 48 majority and Pence was presiding.

Now Schumer has to get McConnell to agree to a reorganization of the Senate, and McConnell some leverage to maintain the status quo in exchange for giving up the committee chairmanships.

This wrinkle in how the Senate works was never explained very well back during all the jubilation over the prospect of "taking control of the Senate" as a result of the Georgia elections. The delay caused by the GA runoffs allowed the Republicans in the Senate to create facts on the ground that are a problem for the Democratic majority.

[BainsBane]

19. I didn't know about that

Can you provide more details about how that works?

[liberalla]

24. That's good info - thank you. I did not understand what the problem was, but it makes sense now.

The organizing of the Senate occurred on jan 3, and Mitch was still in charge. Since then, we have 2 new Dem Senators, and we need to RE-organize. Thus the current negotiations. Yes, that distinction was not widely discussed or understood.

Agan I thank you for your explanation!

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Terrible Headline

These discussions didn't begin until Ossoff & Warnock were sworn in. That's not gridlock!
Then, Biden's been POTUS for 4 days.
His agenda is only 100 hours old.
There's no threat to the agenda at this point.

[Thekaspervote]

22. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

[liberalla]

25. OMG! 100 hours? !! That's FOREVER! What's taking so long? It's all falling apart!

and worst of all --- The sky is falling!

. .

[ProfessorGAC]

30. Thank You!

That really is the point, isn't it?
Headline talks gridlock & threats to an agenda that was barely 4 days old when the article was written.
Just silly!

[liberalla]

31. Exactly! You called it perfectly. We need to keep things in perspective.

[gulliver]

21. I'll trust Schumer, Biden, and Harris to work it out.

I'm not worried.

[Thekaspervote]

23. Agree! This is not the time to second guess our leaders

[HUAJIAO]

27. It's our job to second guess our leaders; or at least stay apprised and have educated opinions.

On the other hand, those three are pretty smart.
(Wish they would add nancy in their war-planning meetings, though)

[lettucebe]

29. Does McConnell run this country or what? First he does because he's majority, now still?

I do not know what is the deal here but this has to stop now.

[Demsrule86]

35. We have a 5050 split hardly a huge majority and every single Democrat has to agree.

It is complicated but I am sure McConnell will figure out the best courts. The Senate is not the House...it is tougher.

[Klaralven]

37. Each Senator has considerable autonomy, and the Senators like it that way.

Party discipline is much weaker than in the House.