How to Tie Up the Most Precious Resource in Washington - The American Prospect

[justaprogressive]

Senate Republicans are about to make a terrible decision while simultaneously highlighting a tool Democrats can use to promote legislative accountability. News reports indicate that Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is prepared to overturn Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough’s ruling that the Senate may not use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn Biden-era waivers allowing California to ban the sale of gas-powered cars.

But there’s a silver lining here. If Republicans take this step, Senate Democrats could force Republicans to vote on a myriad of the Trump administration’s unpopular actions, while stymieing the Republican agenda—legislation and judicial appointments included. So if Republicans push forward and accomplish a short-term goal, they open the door to even more difficult votes in the future.

Enacted in 1996 as part of Newt Gingrich’s Contract With America, the CRA gives legislators opportunities to nullify government regulations before they become effective. Most importantly, the fast-track procedure for CRA prevents such efforts from being filibustered in the Senate.

Before any regulation becomes effective, the promulgating agency must submit it to each chamber of Congress and the Government Accountability Office. For so-called “major rules,” this submission starts a 60-legislative-day clock during which Congress may enact a “joint resolution of disapproval” to overturn it. Resolutions are limited to the following format so that they cannot be used for other purposes: “That Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the [agency] relating to [topic], and such rule shall have no force or effect.”

https://prospect.org/politics/2025-05-06-how-to-tie-up-most-precious-resource-in-washington-cra/

[CincyDem]

1. It's a long trip from what could do to what they will do. I remain hopeful but skeptical.