4:44 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 10th. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of Morning Business.
4:43 p.m. ML McConnell began wrap up. Asked u.c. to call up and pass S. 1014, Establishing the Route 66 Centennial Commission w/Duckworth amendment. Passed by u.c.
3:50 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke about Covid-19 negotiations.
3:33 p.m. DL Schumer spoke about the increasing number of Covid-19 infections and on the need for additional economic assistance.
3:04 p.m. ML McConnell spoke about the stalled Covid-19 relief negotiations. The Majority Leader also spoke about the unjust arrest of Jimmy Lai by Chinese officials.
3:02 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about about Covid-19 relief programs.
The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m. and be in a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Senators are expected to receive at least 24-hour’s notice before any roll call votes occur.
The problem is that the Senate is using rules that worked reasonably well in the pre-internet and pre-24 hour news/entertainment era. Back then, Republicans and Democrats could dicker and come to a compromise agreement, without being labeled a Rino or Dino by the news/entertainment complex on either side.
But they can’t do that anymore. Give one inch and your own base is calling for your head.
But the Senate rules assume an atmosphere of collegiality and compromise. They are simply not suited for bitter partisanship.
Ultimately, the dam will bust. That could happen as soon as January if Democrats gain enough Senate seats. If it doesn’t happen in January, it will happen.
We have seen the filibuster rolled back for nominations. I suspect that a partial rollback could happen in January for legislation even if a full rollback does not happen. A partial rollback would involve a rules change whereby the motion to proceed would no longer be subject to a filibuster, but could be called up by the Majority Leader on demand and immediately voted on without intervening debate. This would allow the Majority Leader the ability to more easily control the agenda and force the Senate to votes on things the minority would rather not vote on. However, in a partial rollback, 60 votes would still be required to invoke cloture on final passage of a bill.
But things are going to change. The Senate cannot limp along much longer in the half assed way it is currently proceeding.
The difference is that the older members like Robert Byrd, Strom Thurmond and others of that generation are gone or soon will be gone. The younger senators in the newer generation are not as obsessed with maintaining the traditions of the Senate. Particularly those that identify as progressive politically. They are more interested in results than tradition.
of an amendment
