McConnell and Schumer fail to strike power-sharing deal amid filibuster

Majority Leader in the Senate Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell What would MLK say about Trump and the Republican Party? Biden’s minimum wage push faces uphill battle with GOP GOP senators struggling to purge Trump from the PLUS party (R-Ky.) And Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck Schumer Cowboys for Trump founder arrested over riot on Capitol Hill Graham urges Schumer to vote to reject Biden impeachment article and new Congress must protect Americans from utility cuts MORE (DN.Y.) failed to reach agreement on Tuesday on hosting a 50-50 Senate as a fight against filibuster threatens to drag talks on for days.

The two Senate leaders met to discuss how to share power in an equally divided Senate. According to Schumer, they spoke of “a lot of problems” but failed to come to an agreement.

The talks have hung on to a 60-vote legislative filibuster fight, which could delay negotiations for days.

McConnell is pushing to use the power-sharing deal to help shield the obstruction amid calls from progressives to overcome the barrier to help push through Democratic legislative priorities.

Doug Andres, a spokesperson for McConnell, said at Tuesday’s meeting, the GOP leader “expressed his long-held view that the Senate’s crucial, long-standing, bipartisan rules regarding legislative obstruction remain intact, especially during power sharing for the next two. years. “

“Discussions on all aspects of the power-sharing agreement will continue over the next few days,” said Andres.

But McConnell’s decision to drop filibuster on discussion of how to organize a divided Senate drew a sharp reaction from outside groups, which urged Democrats to reject the GOP leader’s ploy. .

“Senator McConnell knows that filibuster is the best weapon he has to control the minority Senate and prevent Democrats from keeping the promises they made to voters, which is why he is so desperate to keep it. maintain, “said Fix Our Senate, a coalition of outside groups supporting the removal of the filibuster.

Democrats currently do not have the votes in the caucus to eliminate filibuster. Several expressed skepticism about getting rid of it, and Sen. Joe manchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinSenate Majority Offers Biden New Avenues on Trump’s Environmental Declines OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate Majority Offers Biden New Avenues on Trump’s Environmental Setbacks | Democrats consider a series of climate bills | Biden wants to cancel Keystone XL pipeline upon taking office: Reports Daily Beast reporter discusses prospects for K PLUS stimulus controls (DW.Va.) has promised not to vote to do so.

Democrats will only have a majority of 50 seats, as incoming vice president Kamala harrisKamala Harris Senate Majority Offers Biden New Avenues on Trump’s Environmental Setbacks Empire State Building lights up on eve of Biden’s inauguration to honor COVID-19 victims READ: Letter from Harris resigning from Senate before the inauguration MORE can break a tie, which means they would need the support of every caucus member if they were to deploy the “nuclear option” and get rid of filibuster with a simple majority.

McConnell indicated in a letter to the GOP Senate caucus that he wanted to use negotiations with Schumer on how to organize the Senate to get agreement on the future of filibuster.

“I think now is the time to tackle this issue head on before passions for one particular issue or another manifest themselves,” McConnell wrote.

Without a deal between McConnell and Schumer, the Senate would have to be stuck in limbo until both leaders succeed, including Republicans still having a majority on some committees, even if Schumer will become the Senate majority leader. Wednesday once three new Democrats and Harris senators are sworn in.

The eventual deal is expected to largely mirror a 2001 power-sharing deal where the White House party technically had a majority in the Senate. Under the deal, Democrats would also chair committees, but bills and nominations that got a tie vote in committee could still be referred to the prosecution.

A spokesperson for Schumer said Tuesday evening they had had a “substantive conversation” and “made progress” on issues such as confirmation of the president-elect. Joe bidenJoe Biden: Woman accused of attempting to sell Pelosi laptop to arrested Russians Trump gets lowest job approval rating in recent days as President Trump decides to lift travel restrictions on coronavirus in Europe and BrazilCabinet selects and holds second impeachment trial for President TrumpDonald Trump Giuliani used a provisional ballot to vote in the 2020 election, the same method he denigrated in his fight to overturn the results Trump is getting the lowest job approval rates in recent days as the Fox News DC editor-in-chief Bill Sammon is retiring..

“On an organizational resolution, Chief Schumer said the fairest, most reasonable and easiest way forward is to pass the 2001 bipartisan accord without superficial changes on either side,” he said. declared the spokesperson.