McConnell, Schumer close in on power-sharing agreement in evenly divided Senate

[Wicked Blue]

CNN
Manu Raju, Senior Congressional Correspondent

The top two Senate leaders are nearing a power-sharing agreement to hash out how the evenly divided chamber will operate, with Democrats in charge of setting the schedule but both parties likely to hold an equal number of seats on Senate committees, according to sources familiar with the talks.

The negotiations between Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have been built largely around how the Senate operated the last time the body was split 50-50: When George W. Bush initially became president in 2001. Final details are still being sorted out between the two leaders, sources said.
Biden Transition

Similar to those rules, set in January 2001, Schumer and McConnell aides are discussing allowing bills and nominations to advance to the Senate floor even if they are tied during committee votes, something that could become common given that each party is expected to have the same number of seats on committees.

Democrats will hold the chairmanships of the committees, giving them power to set the agenda, and Schumer will be granted the title of majority leader since Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will cast tiebreaking votes on the floor.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/18/politics/mitch-mcconnell-chuck-schumer-power-sharing-deal/index.html

[MagickMuffin]

1. I don't particularly like this arrangement

as MoscowMitch never would work with the Democrats on anything!

[Chainfire]

2. Oh My God

The two sides may be forced to actually work together. Unheard of! What is the country coming to?

[Demsrule86]

4. Schumer should not do it...McConnell will destroy anything good.

[Ferrets are Cool]

19. If anyone believes the repukes will "work" with us, I have

some swamp land in a great location for condo's.

[KPN]

23. McConnell will use this to obstruct and minimize

anything that originates with Dems. This is a lousy deal if McConnell’s past is any indicator whatsoever. Why would we try to strike an amenable deal, trust or work with the person who obstructed Obama for 8 years, eliminated the filibuster for SCOTUS nominations. refused to bring a single piece of Democratic House legislation to a vote in the past 2 years, and game planned openly with Trump in dealing with the first impeachment in a way that made a mockery of the Senate trial? Why the fuck would we do that?

[Laelth]

3. This does not make me happy. n/t

-Laelth

[Chainfire]

5. One thing is certain, if McConnell regains a one vote margin in the Senate

we will be back to "My way or the Highway." We can't forget that while we actually have a 51/50 advantage.

[Squinch]

6. McConnell would not do this if things were reversed. And we should not either.

[dsc]

9. except he literally did do exactly this

https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RS20785.html

[Squinch]

24. 19 years ago he was quite different from the way he is now. Do you really think he would

agree to this now if he had the advantage?

[coti]

28. It wasn't even him

People always seem to forget that MM didn't become Republican Senate Leader until 2007

[KPN]

25. Wasn't Trent Lott Senate majority leader then, not McConnell?

[coti]

26. No, that was Daschle and Trent Lott nt

[dsc]

29. mcconnell was chair of the rules committee

[exboyfil]

7. Should have offered Toomey Commerce

and have 51-49.

[Tommymac]

30. Not a price I want to pay. He's fucked PA too much already.

No, let him be marginalized by both parties for his last two years.

He has been a horrible Senator. Treats his constituents - like me - with arrogance and disdain. Even those on the bloody side of the aisle.

[CentralMass]

8. Well that is sobering . I hope we don't end up passing their agenda w/compromise.

[oasis]

10. If MM gets his people to vote for Trump's conviction it would be a good start.nt

[Thrill]

11. So typical.

[Nevilledog]

12. Norm Ornstein's comment

Link to tweet

[fearnobush]

13. The key is committee chairs, Dems wil have control. And even bigger our judiciary picks will not

Get the McConnal treatment.

[agingdem]

21. we're in charge...

Schumer decides what business comes before the Senate...McConnell has no say...Schumer isn't pushing bi-partisan anything...he bringing civility back to the Senate

[TeamPooka]

14. Pick a GOP Senator. Offer them the world to switch parties. Hell, pick two.

[fearnobush]

15. I think a senator from Alaska is close.

Her concern is sometimes backed by action unlike a certain senator from Maine.

[TeamPooka]

20. I am officially inviting Senator Lisa Murkowski to join the Democratic Party.

[Ferrets are Cool]

16. Why are we sharing ANY FUCKING THING with those bastards?????

I'm not going to go off the deep end until it's warranted, but I am NOT on board with ANY "power sharing" with traitors.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

17. No quarter!

Be as ruthless as McConnel would be if he were in Schumer’s position.

[stillcool]

18. When I first read the title...

I was alarmed, but after reading the article it's not at all the way it sounds...although Senate rules are not something I'm schooled in. If there is some problem with how these rules are being decided on, I wish someone would point out what they are.

[coti]

22. Do NOT give a path to the floor for bills through committees

from the Rebootlicker side.

You know damned well Moscow Mitch would never let that happen.

[DeminPennswoods]

27. Schumer should sit down with Murkowski

and ask her what it would take for her to become an I who caucuses with the Dems like Sanders and King.

I wouldn't agree to equal numbers on every committee. Maybe some, but not the budget, judiciary or intelligence.

[Mr.Bill]

31. The Senate will not be "equally divided"

as long as the VP is a Democrat. Let's act like it.