Manchin quietly discusses Senate rules changes with Republicans
By Jordain Carney - 12/08/21 12:53 PM EST
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a key Democratic holdout on reforming the filibuster, is discussing small changes to Senate rules with Republicans.
Manchin’s discussions with GOP colleagues — which haven’t been previously reported — come as Democrats are trying to win over their conservative colleague on their push to “restore the Senate,” including making changes to the 60-vote legislative filibuster.
Members of GOP leadership told The Hill that Manchin had reached out to them to float potential ideas with an eye toward making it easier to get votes and bills to the floor.
“Most of us would argue that the only thing that it takes to get the Senate working better is behavioral change. …But he is trying to come up with some fairly, I would say, creative ideas about the rules,” said Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican.
Thune added that Manchin had spoken with other GOP senators and that there was a “considerable amount of interest in trying to make the Senate functional.”
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) confirmed that Manchin had also talked to him.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/584916-manchin-quietly-discusses-senate-rules-changes-with-republicans
