U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. (Official Senate portrait)
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is warning that there will be a "scorched earth" Senate if the Democrats decide to go ahead with would be considered a nuclear attack in the body by doing away with the filibuster.
They've been discussing the possible death of that provision since they took a 50-50 tie with the GOP following the two races in Georgia in January.
That's the rule that requires 60 votes to end debate on an issue, giving the minority a modest influence over the Senate's agenda and results.
But it's a procedure, and the Democrats, by virtue of Kamala Harris' tiebreaker as vice president, have threatened to eliminate it, giving them a 51-5o majority on votes.
And a way to do anything they want.
But they would not like the result, McConnell said.
According to the Washington Examiner, he said, "Nobody serving in this chamber can even begin to imagine what a completely scorched-Earth Senate would look like."
He said the results would be complete gridlock on the floor. He explained the Senate runs by unanimous consent, which means all 100 senators have to agree on the basic terms of operations.
Without a filibuster, he said, he would insist on a vote of the full Senate on everything.
The report explained, "Vice President Kamala Harris would not be permitted to break those tied votes, McConnell added."
"I want my colleagues to imagine a world where every single task requires a physical quorum. Even the most basic aspects of our colleagues’ agenda, the most mundane tasks of the Biden presidency, would be harder, not easier, for Democrats in a post-‘nuclear’ Senate that’s 50-50."
There used to be a filibuster application to judicial nominations, and Democrats, in fact, killed it for lower court judges, when it was convenient for them several years ago. The GOP followed their lead in taking away the requirement for Supreme Court justices, leaving the Democrats badly burned by their own maneuver when President Trump appointed three justices to the high court.
Democrats avoided a filibuster fight over Joe Biden's massive $1.9 trillion that gives billions to Democrat party agenda points by using reconciliation, a procedure allowed for budget matters only.
Their concern is over their demands for immigration reform and such, which cannot be forced through by a simple majority now.
There is a small skeptical part of the Democrat Party, including Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from the GOP-heavy West Virginia, who promised before the election he would not support the change.
McConnell on the floor this AM, in talking about the filibuster: “Nobody serving in this chamber can even begin to imagine what a completely scorched earth Senate would look like.”
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) March 16, 2021
McConnell says he would enact conservative policies with “zero input” from Dems. Lists defunding planned parenthood, sanctuary cities and nationwide right to work, concealed carried reciprocity in D.C. and 50 states
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) March 16, 2021
On social media was the notation of how the GOP could respond when it next takes the majority in the Senate, a possibility as early as 2022, without a filibuster.
Imposed nationwide would be issues like a total defunding of Planned Parenthood, elimination of sanctuary cities, a nationwide right to work law, as well as reciprocity for concealed carry permits meaning someone with such a permit in Wyoming could walk the streets of Washington, D.C., with that weapon.
A commentary at Twitchy noted, "Well, it looks like Sen. Mitch McConnell touched a nerve when he warned of a 'scorched earth' Senate if Dems kill the filibuster."
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