High stakes in battle to control the Senate, from election security to salmon
The struggle to control the U.S. Senate is the second most important decision that America's voters will make in 2020, a very close second.
At stake is the continued ability of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to block worthy legislation and tie up everything, except for the confirmation of right-wing judges to the federal bench. He is absolute boss in a body where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority.
"It has everything to do with setting the agenda, everything to do with matters from infrastructure to the environment," Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told SeattlePI.
Fabled bipartisan Senate cooperation, which once gave America the civil and voting rights acts, "Has shrunk to next to nothing," Cantwell said. One rare exception: The public lands bill that Cantwell and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, guided through Congress earlier this year.
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-- Election Security: The Democratic-run House of Representatives has passed two election security bills providing resources to block Russia's interference with the 2020 election. McConnell won't let the Senate vote, on grounds that President Donald Trump would not sign the legislation.
McConnell has been dubbed "Moscow Mitch" by critics including House speaker Nancy Pelosi. He lashed back on a conservative talk show Tuesday, terming the nickname "over the top" and saying: "This is what we're up against with the hard left today in America."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/connelly-high-stakes-in-battle-to-control-the-senate-from-election-security-to-salmon/ar-AAGOv77