Filibuster Breakthrough? McConnell Drops Demand, Clears Way For Dems To Control Senate

A partisan rift that erupted just as the new Senate convened has ended after Republican leader Mitch McConnell backed off demands to maintain rules on a supermajority, paving the way to a power-sharing arrangement in the upper chamber.

The new Democratic-controlled Senate argued for a power-sharing agreement that was in place the last time seats were split 50-50, with the vice president acting as the deciding vote, in 2001. Republicans had argued for a so-called legislative filibuster, a requirement that a supermajority, 60 votes, is needed to pass most legislation.

According to The Washington Post, Senate Minority Leader McConnell told fellow Republicans he would push Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to agree to keep the filibuster in place or face steady opposition from the minority.

Late Monday, McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, backed off his demand after assurances from Democrats who agreed with his position that the party in control should not squander the minority’s role in shaping legislation.

“With these assurances, I look forward to moving ahead with a power-sharing agreement modeled on that precedent,” he said in a statement.

The agreement ends an early threat to President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda. Without organizing regulation governing rules in the Senate chamber, many of the committees were still technically in Republican hands. The new measure would give Democrats, with support from Vice President Kamala Harris, control over the various agendas in the chamber.

In a statement published by Reuters, a spokesperson for Schumer, Justin Goodman, said the GOP has, in essence, conceded defeat.

“We’re glad Senator McConnell threw in the towel and gave up on his ridiculous demand,” Goodman said. “We look forward to organizing the Senate under Democratic control and start getting big, bold things done for the American people.”