Bipartisan group discussing Senate rules change
By Jordain Carney - 01/28/21 06:00 AM EST A bipartisan group of senators are quietly discussing potential changes to the Senate rules in an effort to break the chamber’s growing legislative gridlock.
The discussions wouldn’t gut the 60-vote legislative filibuster, which has been back in the spotlight after it threw a wrench into a power-sharing deal and Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) reiterated that they don’t support doing away with it.
But senators involved in the talks are looking at ways to make it easier to get votes for bipartisan bills on the floor and how to get more votes on amendments, which have become increasingly rare in the Senate.
“We are talking about a number of those possibilities,†Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told The Hill, noting that the talks were happening both among Democrats but also with Republicans.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), who is involved in the talks, said that there was “an interest in at least seeing the Senate actually function the way that it used to in the past.â€
more
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/536114-bipartisan-group-discussing-senate-rules-change
