Moderates vow to 'be a force' under Biden
By Jordain Carney - 01/25/21 06:00 AM EST
Moderates in both chambers are hoping to grow their influence and cut deals under the Biden administration.
Staring down at least two years of a narrow Democratic majority in a 50-50 Senate where Vice President Harris will be the tie-breaking vote, centrist lawmakers are eager to help break Washington’s most well-known habit: a penchant for gridlock.
In the Senate, 16 lawmakers, many of whom were involved in last year’s coronavirus negotiations, have formed a bipartisan gang with an eye on looking for potential areas where they could cut a deal.
“The numbers are so tight. All of us want this place to work. We’ve got a golden opportunity to make it work, we really do. And our bipartisan, bicameral group is going to be a force, and when I say a force, we’re going to try to find that middle,†said Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), the most outspoken Senate Democratic centrist.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), another member of the group, said their objective was to “try to get results and avoid a lot of the stalemates that we’ve had in the past.â€
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/535592-moderates-vow-to-be-a-force-under-biden
