Republicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster

Senate Republicans are threatening they will attempt a takeover of the Senate agenda by forcing votes on issues ranging from the Keystone XL pipeline to abortion rules to a U.S-Mexico border wall if Democrats weaken the filibuster.  

Republicans are also looking at smaller bills such as a proposal to prohibit the administration from imposing a fracking ban by executive order, a prohibition on the IRS implementing new reporting on banks to disclose individuals’ banking activity and mandatory detention for illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes.  

Senate Republican leaders on Monday said they have a list of bills they will try to bring to the floor under Rule 14 and debate if Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerClyburn on updating election law: ‘What is true today was not true then’ Biden eulogizes Reid as a fighter ‘for the America we all love’ Like it or not, all roads forward for Democrats go through Joe Manchin MORE (D-N.Y.) rounds up enough Democrats to lower the threshold for beginning debate on a bill from 60 votes to 50.  

“Since Sen. Schumer is hellbent on trying to break the Senate, Republicans will show how this reckless action would have immediate consequences,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell blocks simple majority votes on Dems’ voting rights bills Republicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  Biden to ‘forcefully advocate’ for voting rights in Tuesday speech MORE (R-Ky.) said in a statement first reported by The Wall Street Journal.  

Senate Minority Whip John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneRepublicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  McConnell’s office knocks Democrats over ‘the left’s Big Lie’ The Hill’s Morning Report – Voting rights takes center stage for Democrats MORE (R-S.D.) said Republicans have a list of bills that Schumer would not be keen on considering that could pass the chamber with the support of the entire GOP conference and one or two moderate Democrats such as Sen. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinOn the Money — Democrats grow less confident in Manchin McConnell blocks simple majority votes on Dems’ voting rights bills Republicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  MORE (W.Va.) or Sen. Kyrsten SinemaKyrsten SinemaMcConnell blocks simple majority votes on Dems’ voting rights bills Republicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  Democrats face moment of truth in filibuster fight   MORE (D-Ariz.).  

“We have a lot of bills, actually, that have bipartisan support that Democrats have expressed support for previously,” Thune said Monday afternoon.  

The No. 2 Senate Republican said if Democrats effectively lower the threshold on the procedural motion to begin debate on a bill to 50 votes, it would allow Republicans to bring legislation such as a bill to authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline to the floor for a vote.  

Two Democrats, Manchin and Sen. Jon TesterJonathan (Jon) TesterRepublicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  Democrats race to squash Cruz’s Nord Stream 2 sanctions bill This week: Democrats face crunch time on voting rights MORE (Mont.), in February voted for an amendment to the budget reconciliation to resurrect the Keystone XL project. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 52-48 before later being stripped out of the resolution.  

While the bills would still need 60 votes to advance to final passage, lowering the threshold to begin debate could open up vulnerable Democrats such as Sens. Raphael WarnockRaphael WarnockRepublicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  Juan Williams: American democracy will die unless voting rights are protected Democrats skeptical of McConnell’s offer to talk on election law MORE (Ga.), Mark KellyMark KellyMcConnell blocks simple majority votes on Dems’ voting rights bills Republicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  Democrats face moment of truth in filibuster fight   MORE (Ariz.) and Maggie HassanMargaret (Maggie) HassanRepublicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  New Hampshire state Senate president to challenge Hassan Schumer vows Senate rules change vote by Jan. 17 if GOP blocks voting rights MORE (N.H.) to a slew of tough votes.  

Thune said if the 60-vote threshold to allow a vote on motion to proceed “goes away,” a variety of bipartisan bills “would be available to get called up with a simple majority,” and there “could be some really hard votes for Democrats.” 

“What they’re talking about doing — we’ve said this before — is not without consequence, and they know it. They need to think long and hard … about whether or not they want to go down a path that allows Republicans to move items on our agenda at 51,” he said.  

The bills that McConnell and Thune have in mind would have overwhelming Republican support and just enough backing from centrist Democrats to begin a floor debate.  

Even if Republicans call legislation to the floor without any Democratic support, they say they could insist on vulnerable incumbents such as Warnock, Kelly and Hassan taking tough votes.  

McConnell’s office on Monday suggested more than a dozen bills that could come to the floor if Republicans weaken the threshold for voting to proceed to legislation.  

Other candidates for action include a proposal sponsored by Sen. Shelley Moore CapitoShelley Wellons Moore CapitoRepublicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  Like it or not, all roads forward for Democrats go through Joe Manchin Republicans say Mayorkas failed to deliver report on evacuated Afghans MORE (R-W.Va.) to codify the Trump administration’s revised Waters of the United States rule, which the Biden administration said in November it would scrap. 

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers announced in November the restoration of an Obama-era rule expanding the number of waterways protected under the Clean Water Act. 

Another proposal sponsored by Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioRepublicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  Democrats must close the perception gap Tesla criticized for opening showroom in China’s Xinjiang province MORE (R-Fla.) would bar money appropriated under the 2020 CARES Act or the 2021 American Rescue Plan from going to public elementary and secondary schools that aren’t open for in-person learning.  

A third proposal sponsored by Sens. Thom TillisThomas (Thom) Roland TillisRepublicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  Biden’s court picks face fierce GOP oppositio n The 10 races that will decide the Senate majority MORE (R-N.C.), John CornynJohn CornynRepublicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  Senate Minority Whip Thune, close McConnell ally, to run for reelection In their own words: Lawmakers, staffers remember Jan. 6 insurrection MORE (R-Texas) and Tom CottonTom Bryant CottonRepublicans threaten floor takeover if Democrats weaken filibuster  Will Putin sink Biden? The 10 Republicans most likely to run for president MORE (R-Ark.) would prohibit the Department of Justice from paying settlements to illegal immigrants detained at the U.S.-Mexico border.

President BidenJoe BidenBiden coronavirus vaccine-or-test mandate goes into effect On the Money — Democrats grow less confident in Manchin Fed Vice Chair Clarida to resign over pandemic stock trades MORE in November dismissed reports that his administration would compensate families separated at the border with up to $450,000 in damages as “garbage.”