Negotiations are still ongoing for a power-sharing agreement in the Senate but Dems are balking at Mitch McConnell’s desire to protect the legislative filibuster:
NEW: Democrats are shooting down an effort by GOP Leader Mitch McConnell to protection the legislative filibuster as part of a Senate power-sharing deal (via @jordainc) https://t.co/yFN03PJsDi
— John Kruzel (@johnkruzel) January 21, 2021
And because there’s no power-sharing agreement in place, Republicans still control the committees who are now meeting to confirm President Biden’s cabinet nominees:
Buttigieg hearing starts with Republicans chairing the hearing. Sen. Roger Wicker R-MS says because there is no power sharing agreement yet in the 50/50 Senate – he's still the Chairman of the Commerce Committee. pic.twitter.com/eLFCNojBA8
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 21, 2021
It’s a 50/50 tie. . .
I thought the majority set the rules and committees?
— Zawdie Ato Herbert (@atoherbert) January 21, 2021
. . .and the organizing rule can be filibustered:
Yes, the majority is in charge on the Senate floor. But an organizing resolution to set out details would be subject to a filibuster. So you can't just put that on the floor, and hope it passes. Plus, there's no deal yet on the power sharing agreement.
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 21, 2021
Libs are pushing for (eventual) Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to nuke the filibuster:
.@HayesBrown: Now that the Democrats have control of the Senate, they need to strike a final blow against one of the last and greatest obstacles to Congress' success: the filibuster.https://t.co/tgg8QpvdU6
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) January 21, 2021
Sen. Dick Durbin told NBC’s Garret Haake this morning that Dems won’t agree to Sen. McConnell’s plan because it would just encourage “unbridled use of” the filibuster:
Durbin tells @GarrettHaake Dems won’t agree to McConnell demand on filibuster:
“Unfortunately we’re not going to give him what he wishes. If you did that then there would be just unbridled use of it.”
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 21, 2021
And this needs a fact check. Remind us again which party fits the phrase, “unbridled use of the filibuster”? Via @NRSC Senior Advisor Matt Whitlock:
Absurd to hear @SenatorDurbin express concern over “unbridled use of the filibuster” right after a term where his caucus filibustered pandemic relief *multiple times,* police reform, the PPP program, and just about everything they could.
With even fewer seats. https://t.co/0P4Ku5CKBX
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) January 21, 2021
They want new rules now that they’re in charge and we say “no way.”
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