Regarding that Senate "power sharing arrangement" that has set some folks' hair on fire

[StarfishSaver]

The press is doing a disservice by saying that Schumer and McConnell have reached a "power sharing arrangement," as if Schumer is giving McConnell something he doesn't already have.

That's not what's happening.

What is being discussed relates mostly to how committees will operate in a 50-50 Senate. Committee membership is based on the numbers of Republicans and Democrats in the larger body. When the Senate is 50-50, committee membership is also usually 50-50. And the Vice President has no tie-breaking role, since they only break ties in floor votes. Under normal Senate rules, it's difficult for measures to get out of committee and to the floor on a tie vote. Things get stalled, the minority party (i.e., the party without the Vice President) can exercise outsized power, etc.

So, they're working out how to manage this and they're using the rules set in 2001 when the Senate was 50-50. The plan they're discussing would make Schumer the Majority Leader, give all of the committee chairs to the Democrats, and allow tie votes on bills and nominations to be sent out of committee to the floor.

In reality, the 50-50 split in committee means the two parties already share power. This arrangement simply works out how that shared power will work so that Senate business isn't forever stuck in committee and Republicans can't cause mischief they would no doubt do without such an arrangement.

I hope this helps folks calm down. Schumer is not "caving" and he's not "giving away power." He's doing exactly what he needs to do to make sure the Senate Democrats can more easily and effectively advance their agenda, which was the point of fighting for a Democratic Senate majority.

This is much ado about nothing.

[SheltieLover]

1. Ty!

[SharonAnn]

33. Yes, and it's appropriate.

[treestar]

2. I wish people would think before

They set their hair afire.

[William769]

5. Think of the smell!

Yuck.

[TomSlick]

3. Thanks.

There has been much misunderstanding here.

[Atticus]

4. Thanks for that explanation. nt

[Kittycow]

6. Thx, I had no idea what it meant!

[Thekaspervote]

7. Thank you!!

This isn’t the time to doubt our dem leaders! The ship didn’t sink because of them... let’s give them credit for knowing what’s the right thing and when to do it.

[peggysue2]

8. Thank you for that

And

[brush]

9. So when there is a 50-50 vote in committee it goes to the floor for a deciding vote, right?

And then our VP advantage comes in.

[StarfishSaver]

19. Yes. If the Democrats want the bill to go to the floor.

I believe a 50-50 vote with the Democrats voting no is also treated as a Democratic majority and that wouldn't come out of committee.

[brush]

27. Very good. We're cooking with gas.

[StarfishSaver]

29. Yep

[leftstreet]

10. The Democrats shouldn't let those headlines out there

They've just won a victory, but they already need people out there ExPlaiNiNg headlines that make them look weak.

smh

[StarfishSaver]

13. How are Democratic leaders in control of the headlines?

You know what would work better? If Democrats to actually READ the story instead of going off all half-cocked because they only read the headline and didn't bother to read what was under it.

That's not the fault of the Democratic leadership. That's on folks on the ground.

[leftstreet]

24. Schumer and his spokespeople give the quotes

One article's quote:

"Leader Schumer expressed that the fairest, most reasonable and easiest path forward is to adopt the 2001 bipartisan agreement without extraneous changes from either side," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said that Schumer and McConnell had made progress on confirming Biden's nominees and holding a "fair impeachment trial" for outgoing President Donald Trump.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/19/schumer-mcconnell-senate-deal-460367

People voted for a strong repudiation of Trump, McConnell and the GOP.

No one gives a shit about being "reasonable" or taking an "easy path" forward.

That's how midterms get lost

[StarfishSaver]

26. People DO give a shish about the Senate actually getting things done

Much more interested in that than in exacting revenge.

The best way to "repudiate" Trump is to pass bills and nominations that actually help the American public instead of holding out in order to show how tough we can be, and getting nothing accomplished in the process.

[ancianita]

38. +1

[pnwmom]

11. Thank you for the explanation -- yes, I'd read some concerning press reports. n/t

[RussellCattle]

12. This is why DU is so valuable. Clear, concise commentary that educates all of us. Thanks. Well done.

[Mr.Bill]

14. In this era of Covid illnesses/quarantines,

can committee members vote virtually?

[StarfishSaver]

17. Senate committees have long permitted voting by proxy.

This was allowed even before COVID.

[Mr.Bill]

20. Thanks. But no proxy voting on a bill on the floor, correct?

[StarfishSaver]

23. I don't believe the Senate has put remote/proxy voting into place

[sheshe2]

15. As always, thank you.

You are the bestest buddy to have.

[StarfishSaver]

21. I love this. Thank you!

[sheshe2]

25. Back at ya hon.

Glad you are here. You are good for DU.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

16. Thank you for putting a damper on some of the jerking knees.

But of course we always have to have a few hissy fits about how Democrats suck, don't we?

[StarfishSaver]

22. It's like Whack-a-Mole

[sheshe2]

30. +1

[cayugafalls]

18. I hope it works.

Thanks for the explanation.

[herding cats]

28. It's just the media trying to garner some hits and viewership.

If anyone here doesn't recall what it was like back before Trump, I'll be happy to explain the MSM pre Trump in two sentences.

If a Republican does something wrong they scream both sides do it!!

If a Democrat is being smeared by the RW media they become 'fair and balanced' and will be giving extra airtime/print to the smear.

At DU heads will explode, curses will be said and grudges will be formed. There will be deletions posts and members will be banned.

It feels so good to be back to state where I know what to expect each day when I look at my pushes! No blatant racism, no children in cages, no kissing up to global dictators and no childish name calling from our President. Just a stable leadership and good legislation with all our best interests at its core.

[Cha]

31. Mahalo so much for the Explanation

of how That Works! So wonderful to have real information & not just reactions without knowing all the important Details!

[StarfishSaver]

34. You're welcome

But most of this information is available just by googling it. It's frustrating that people are so quick to fly off the handle based on the headlines without bothering to read all the words that follow it.

[Cha]

35. Yeah, I like reading about

it through your knowledge.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

32. K&R. n/t

[hay rick]

36. Thanks for the explanation.

[scarletwoman]

37. Thank you for bringing sorely needed factual information to this issue.

[relayerbob]

39. Thank you!

[PatrickforO]

40. You know, the big deal to me is that bills actually DO get out on the floor for a vote.

That's the way we move forward, and I've had quite enough of McConnell smothering bill after bill.

I don't mind not always getting my way, but we have to have the debate and the vote.

[StarfishSaver]

42. I agree.

If they work out this deal, the Democrats will be able to get bills out of committee pretty easily, as long as they all stick together. Without this arrangement, the Republicans could bottle up everything in committee if THEY stick together.

[lunatica]

41. This is why you're the go to person on the way

our government works.

[crickets]

43. Thanks for the clarification, SfS.

I was a little confused about what was going on and why some were so upset. The explanation makes sense and sounds like it's going to be a good thing, a business as usual kind of thing. Hooray for norms and normalcy.

[Docreed2003]

44. K&R

Hope more folks read this! Thanks StarfishSaver!

[pnwmom]

45. The article I'd read had indicated that the 2001 plan involved splitting the Committee heads

between the two parties.

So what you're saying now would be a lot better than that.

[betsuni]

46. Thank you!

[Karma13612]

47. Awesome!

Thanks for the reality check!!

[Amaryllis]

48. What's in it for Mitch to agree to this when he could continue to obstruct by not agreeing and

keeping bills stuck in committee when they are tied and not moving to the floor?