In his maiden flooring speech as Senate majority chief, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota used his first jiffy of flooring time to make a dedication to defend the filibuster rule, which requires a minimum of 60 votes to go laws within the Senate.
“One among my priorities as chief might be to make sure that the Senate stays the Senate,” Thune mentioned. “Meaning preserving the legislative filibuster, the Senate rule that at present has maybe the best influence on preserving the founders’ visions of the US Senate.”
Thune’s feedback got here simply after the Senate gaveled in to start its new session.
John Thune speaks to reporters following the weekly Senate luncheon on the U.S. Capitol on December 17, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photos
In the course of the opening of the brand new Congress, Vice President Kamala Harris swore in all 32 Senators elected in November, together with 12 freshman members, a few of whom helped to ship a brand new Republican majority within the higher chamber.
On this new Senate, Republicans have 53 seats, a three-seat majority that offers them a cushty edge in confirming President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees to his Cupboard and the federal bench since these nominations solely require 50 votes for affirmation.
However the Senate guidelines at the moment require 60 votes to go laws. If Thune holds true to his dedication to uphold this rule, meaning nearly all of legislative issues would require the buy-in of a minimum of seven Senate Democrats or independents who caucus with Democrats. It retains compromise entrance and heart within the higher chamber.
Thune’s speech Friday afternoon will not be the primary time that he has made a dedication to uphold the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, which Democrats unsuccessfully tried to sidestep to go voting rights laws in 2022. Thune made the safety of the filibuster a part of his marketing campaign to turn out to be majority chief and has since spoken on the ground to the identical.
However the truth that Thune, who will little question endure scrutiny from Trump for any failure to maneuver his legislative agenda throughout the end line swiftly, selected to make use of his first moments on the Senate flooring as Republican chief to affirm his dedication to the 60-vote threshold is notable.
Trump tried to stress Republicans to place the legislative filibuster rule apart in 2018, when Trump was in workplace for the primary time and Republicans managed the Senate. It was then-Senate Majority Chief Mitch McConnell who prevented the Senate from taking that step. Democrats equally signaled final yr that they had been keen on exploring a revision of the rule in the event that they managed to maintain management of the Senate, which they didn’t.
Thune’s feedback on the ground at present sign that he will not cave to Trump if the president-elect grows pissed off by the Senate’s lack of ability to swiftly transfer laws that doesn’t have any Democratic assist and as soon as once more mounts a stress marketing campaign to alter the rule.
“Sadly, at present there are lots of people on the market who want to see the Senate flip into a duplicate of the Home of Representatives, and that’s not what our founders meant or what our nation wants,” Thune mentioned.
Republicans can have the flexibility to aim to implement main coverage modifications with none Democratic assist utilizing a procedural device known as finances reconciliation, which solely requires a easy majority of votes to go the chamber. However the razor-thin GOP majority within the Home means a reconciliation bundle will even be a problem to cobble collectively.
All different laws would require 60 votes to go.
Thune mentioned the Senate can have a laundry record of issues it hopes to perform throughout the 119th Congress, together with border safety, tax reform, protection spending modifications and bigger authorities funding discussions.
Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, who’s now the minority chief on this new Senate, mentioned Democrats will do their half to attempt to work with Republicans the place potential, citing a string of bipartisan wins in earlier years.
Chuck Schumer speaks throughout an occasion within the State Eating Room on the White Home, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
“I need to work with the brand new Republican chief to maintain that bipartisan streak going within the new yr,” Schumer mentioned. “I do not anticipate we are going to agree on all the things and even many issues, however there’ll nonetheless be alternatives to enhance the lives of the American folks if we’re keen to work collectively.”
Schumer, who spoke out repeatedly in opposition to Trump previous to the 2024 election, mentioned Democrats are prepared to maneuver ahead from the election.
“For first time in a very long time, the following president might be somebody we have seen earlier than: President-elect Trump will return to the Oval Workplace,” Schumer mentioned. “Within the first day of the 119th Congress, I would wish to take a second to speak about how Senate Democrats will strategy the following two years. It may be summarized like this: Democrats stand united not due to who we struggle in opposition to however due to who we’re preventing for — the American folks.”
He additionally congratulated Thune on his assumption of the function as majority chief.
Thune fills the function of McConnell, who stepped down from management after 18 years on the helm of the Senate Republican Convention. Friday was Thune’s first day as social gathering chief regardless of profitable an election to the place in November.
Thune mentioned he’ll “work day by day” to be worthy of the belief his social gathering members have put in him as their new chief.
