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Could Moscow Mitch be the next "Emperor Without Clothes"?
Reversing just one single senate TRADITION in the new year is all it would take to end his death-grip on the US legislative process
So, let's pay careful attention when the new Senate is seated and stay with me...
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Reversing just one single senate TRADITION in the new year is all it would take to end his death-grip on the US legislative process
So, let's pay careful attention when the new Senate is seated and stay with me...
1/7
According to Article I, Section 3, Clause 4 of the United States Constitution: “The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.”
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2/7
The Majority Leader (position) appears nowhere in the Constitution. The reason that the ML has near-dictatorial powers to control floor votes is because of a TRADITION dating back to the FDR admin, more importantly this TRADITION has never made its way into Senate rules.
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3/7
On 13 Aug 1937 officially acknowledging an informal practice, VP, John Nance Garner announced a policy—under the rule requiring the presiding officer to "recognize the senator who shall first address him"—of giving preferential recognition to the majority/minority leaders.
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4/7
So, the Senate chooses a president pro tempore (Grassley) that presides in the VP's absence. But, modern presidents pro tempore have also rarely presided over the Senate.
But the incoming VP (Harris) can decide to take up Senate duties and preside whenever she so chooses.
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But the incoming VP (Harris) can decide to take up Senate duties and preside whenever she so chooses.
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Should Vice President-Elect, Kamala Harris decide to, she could give priority recognition to any Senator (e.g., Minority Leader) who could then bring votes to the floor. This would effectively render McConnell, and the office he has abused for so long, virtually powerless.
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6/7
As West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd would later say:
Without that essential power, the majority leader "would be like an emperor without clothes."
Something to think about.
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Without that essential power, the majority leader "would be like an emperor without clothes."
Something to think about.
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Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) told Democrats on Saturday that "nothing is off the table" if Republicans move forward this year with filling the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death.
9/19/20
9/19/20