Democrats shoot down McConnell’s filibuster gambit

Democrats shoot down Senate Minority Leader effort Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellBudowsky: Democracy won, Trump lost, President Biden ushered in Biden’s inauguration marked by a conflict of hope and fear McConnell faces a backlash from Tories to criticism of Trump MORE (R-Ky.) To include protections for legislative obstruction as part of a Senate power-sharing deal.

“We’re not going to give him what he wants. If you were to do that, then it would just be rampant use. I mean nothing is holding him back,” Sen said. Dick durbinDick DurbinSchumer becomes new Senate Majority Leader McConnell lets GOP guess on Trump impeachment Officials prepare for second Trump impeachment trial (Ill.), Senate Democrat No.2, Thursday.

McConnell urged Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerSchumer Becomes New Senate Majority Leader US Chamber of Commerce in Biden, Congress: The Business Community “Ready to Help” Why Claim Senators Can “Do Fair Justice”? MORE (DN.Y.) to include a preservation of the legislative filibuster of 60 votes in any deal they reach on how to organize an evenly divided 50-50 Senate, a demand that threatens to delay their discussions and keep much of the Senate in limbo for several days.

McConnell, according to Durbin, wanted to include in Senate rules a guarantee that there would be no effort to pursue the “nuclear option” – change the rules with a simple majority rather than the higher threshold of 60 or 67 votes – over the next two years, or as long as the 50-50 split lasts.

McConnell and Schumer are still negotiating how to organize the Senate, keeping the chamber in a strange state where Democrats control the majority, but, as the chamber has not passed a new organizing resolution, the Republicans still control the majority of some committees.

Schumer has been publicly quiet about their discussions, as well as McConnell’s specific request, except to say he thinks they should agree to an inspired resolution from 2001, the last time there was a 50-50 Senate.

“On an organizational resolution, Chief Schumer said the fairest, most reasonable and easiest way forward is to pass the 2001 bipartisan agreement without superficial changes on either side,” he said. a spokesperson said earlier this week after an initial meeting between the two leaders failed to produce a deal.

It’s unclear whether an alternative to protection from filibuster in writing, such as a handshake deal between Schumer and McConnell or a ground speech from Schumer, could satisfy both sides and get negotiations back on track. Democrats are set to receive their first caucus call since taking a majority on Thursday.

Republicans argue that the organizing resolution is the best place to address the future of filibuster because it prevents a decision from being made amid heated political debate.

“I think now is the time to tackle this issue head on before passions about one particular issue or another arise,” McConnell wrote in a letter to his caucus earlier this week.

McConnell defended his strategy in the Senate Thursday, noting that Biden and other Democrats had previously supported filibuster.

“I can’t imagine the Democratic leader preferring to uphold the power-sharing deal rather than simply reaffirming that his side will not violate this permanent Senate rule. I appreciate our ongoing good faith discussions and have can’t wait to find the solution together, “he said.

With a slim 50-50 majority depending on Vice President Harris to sever ties, Democrats lack the votes to overturn the 60-vote legislative obstruction, although the idea has gained momentum in the caucus.

Progressive activists pledge to step up the pressure to try to get rid of, or at least weaken, legislative obstruction, arguing that it hinders many of their top priorities, as well as President Biden , such as immigration reform, the right to vote and democracy reform and limit their options in health care.

“We need to eliminate the filibuster,” Sen said. Ed markeyEd Markey Five centrist Democrats oppose Pelosi for president in tight vote David Sirota: Democrats ceded their weight by forcing the vote on 000 Sanders checks to slow the NDAA’s veto to get the vote on the K PLUS voucher proposal (D-Mass.) tweeted Thursday.

But several Democrats, including Sen. Joe manchinJoseph (Joe) Manchin Democrats torn by impeachment trial timeline Biden faces daunting challenge to unite polarized nation McConnell and Schumer fail to strike power-sharing deal amid obstruction of obstruction . (DW.Va.), are opposed to getting rid of it. Because Democrats only have 50 seats, they would need the support of every senator to change the rules on filibuster via the “nuclear option.”

But Democrats also believe leaving it on the table as a potential route could force Republicans to make deals and don’t want to shut themselves up as they pledge to pursue a “bold” agenda. They would face a wave of acrimony from the progressives if they accepted a demand that many believe McConnell would never agree to if the situation were reversed.

“They should have a simple organizational resolution like they have in the past. Now is not the time to make decisions like that, this is the time to just understand how you are going to share power. when you have a 50-50 Senate with Kamala harrisKamala Harris Katy Perry and her ‘fireworks display’ close first call for foreign leader on Biden TV special to be with Canada’s Trudeau on Friday Harris, now ‘most influential woman’ in politics American LEARN MORE as a decisive vote, ”said the senator. Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharDemocrats Swear By Three Senators To Win Majority Of Congressional Leaders Introduce Biden, Harris With Flags Flown At Inauguration LIVE COVER OF INAUGURATION: Biden Signs Executive Orders; the press officer holds his first briefing READ MORE (D-Minn.), The President of the Rules Committee.

His. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphySenate confirms Biden’s intelligence chief, giving him first official Cabinet government, Democrats torn by timing of impeachment trial Senate Democrats call on Biden to immediately invoke defense production law MORE (D-Conn.) Added that there was “no reason to look beyond the precedent that existed the last time we shared power in the Senate.”

“It’s usually up to the majority to decide whether they want to continue a conversation about changing the rules and we should reserve that right,” Murphy said, adding that although there is currently no consensus on the rule changes Democrats could make as a caucus. support, “that consensus can emerge across the board.”

Updated at 1:20 p.m.