Senate Republicans have scored a series of small-scale legislative victories recently despite their diminished numbers and a recent high-profile defection.
On Wednesday Senate Republicans prevented one of President Obamas nominees from moving forward one day after a GOP senator won adoption of a controversial amendment easing restrictions on guns in national parks. Another Obama nominee for a key Justice Department post is on the ropes.
Republicans have managed to post those legislative field goals despite the fact that their 40-member conference is the smallest since Republicans controlled 38 seats in the 95th Congress (1977-79).
Obviously with our diminished numbers there is more pressure on us to hang together or hang separately" said John Thune of South Dakota vice chairman of the Republican conference. Weve recognized that we have to band together when we can. Its not going to happen every time its not going to happen on every issue but I think theres a realization that were a lot stronger when we operate as a team."
The recent successes follow the April 28 announcement by Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania that he was switching from the GOP to the Democratic Party putting Democrats within reach of a 60-vote filibuster-proof majority. Specters switch has been cast as a significant blow to a party struggling to find its identity as it squares off against a popular president and invigorated congressional Democrats.
But the realities of moving legislation through the Senate are complex and Republicans are seeing an increased incentive to band together as the pressure mounts for Democrats to muster the votes to overcome a GOP filibuster
If they just try to roll over us with more government I think youll see us stick together on most things" said South Carolinas Jim DeMint a fiscal conservative who predicted that Republicans would look for opportunities to pick up the votes of moderate Democrats as well.
Thats what happened May 12 when 27 Democrats voted in favor of Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn s amendment to allow people to carry firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges.
Coburn who had been working for months to get a vote on the proposal threatened to derail credit card legislation (HR 627) unless he got his way. The amendment was adopted 67-29.
Coburn said it was not going to be a piece of cake" for Democrats to prevent the adoption of Republican amendments particularly on issues such as guns that divide the Democratic Caucus.
Republicans in February also used the guns issue to splinter Democrats and slow down legislation to provide the District of Columbia with full House voting representation (S 160). On Feb. 26 22 Democrats helped win adoption of an amendment by John Ensign R-Nev. easing restrictions on District of Columbia gun ownership. The Senate passed the amended bill but it has stalled in the House.
Interior Appointment Stalls
In addition to amendments Senate Republicans have been flexing their muscle on nominations that they find objectionable.
On Wednesday all but two GOP senators stuck together at the request of Utah Republican Robert F. Bennett to turn back a cloture motion that would have paved the way for a confirmation vote on President Obamas nominee for the No. 2 spot at the Interior Department David Hayes.
In a repeat of a scene weve become too familiar with lately . . . Republicans are standing in the way" said Majority Leader Harry Reid D-Nev.
Even with just 40 seats Republicans have opportunities to prevent Democrats from mustering the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin acknowledged. Forty senators is enough to mount a filibuster in a shorthanded Senate now at 99 members because of the contested Minnesota race.
As a whip you always run into a problem because somebodys going to be missing or sick or doesnt want to vote with you" Durbin said. Its the reality. So 60 is not magic. Its great to have better than 59. But no guarantees."
Reid meanwhile is also battling dissension within his own caucus and scrambling to secure enough votes to confirm another nominee Dawn Johnsen who is Obamas pick to head the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel
Reid said May 12 that he did not know when he would be able to bring Johnsens nomination to the floor adding that he was working to peel off a few Republicans but had not done so.
At least two Democrats Specter and Nebraskas Ben Nelson have said they will vote against Johnsen but have not indicated whether they would support cloture. Johnsen an Indiana University law professor has drawn fire from social conservatives for her previous work for abortion rights groups and for criticizing the OLCs counterterrorism policies during the George W. Bush administration.
Thune said GOP senators will be picking and choosing their battles to ensure some victories. Our ability to not only stop things that we think ought to be stopped but to also influence legislation is affected by our ability to stay together" Thune said.
Senate Republicans have scored a series of small-scale legislative victories recently despite their diminished numbers and a recent high-profile defection.
On Wednesday Senate Republicans prevented one of President Obamas nominees from moving forward one day after a GOP senator won adoption of a controversial amendment easing restrictions on guns in national parks. Another Obama nominee for a key Justice Department post is on the ropes.
Republicans have managed to post those legislative field goals despite the fact that their 40-member conference is the smallest since Republicans controlled 38 seats in the 95th Congress (1977-79).
Obviously with our diminished numbers there is more pressure on us to hang together or hang separately" said John Thune of South Dakota vice chairman of the Republican conference. Weve recognized that we have to band together when we can. Its not going to happen every time its not going to happen on every issue but I think theres a realization that were a lot stronger when we operate as a team."
The recent successes follow the April 28 announcement by Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania that he was switching from the GOP to the Democratic Party putting Democrats within reach of a 60-vote filibuster-proof majority. Specters switch has been cast as a significant blow to a party struggling to find its identity as it squares off against a popular president and invigorated congressional Democrats.
But the realities of moving legislation through the Senate are complex and Republicans are seeing an increased incentive to band together as the pressure mounts for Democrats to muster the votes to overcome a GOP filibuster
If they just try to roll over us with more government I think youll see us stick together on most things" said South Carolinas Jim DeMint a fiscal conservative who predicted that Republicans would look for opportunities to pick up the votes of moderate Democrats as well.
Thats what happened May 12 when 27 Democrats voted in favor of Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn s amendment to allow people to carry firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges.
Coburn who had been working for months to get a vote on the proposal threatened to derail credit card legislation (HR 627) unless he got his way. The amendment was adopted 67-29.
Coburn said it was not going to be a piece of cake" for Democrats to prevent the adoption of Republican amendments particularly on issues such as guns that divide the Democratic Caucus.
Republicans in February also used the guns issue to splinter Democrats and slow down legislation to provide the District of Columbia with full House voting representation (S 160). On Feb. 26 22 Democrats helped win adoption of an amendment by John Ensign R-Nev. easing restrictions on District of Columbia gun ownership. The Senate passed the amended bill but it has stalled in the House.
Interior Appointment Stalls
In addition to amendments Senate Republicans have been flexing their muscle on nominations that they find objectionable.
On Wednesday all but two GOP senators stuck together at the request of Utah Republican Robert F. Bennett to turn back a cloture motion that would have paved the way for a confirmation vote on President Obamas nominee for the No. 2 spot at the Interior Department David Hayes.
In a repeat of a scene weve become too familiar with lately . . . Republicans are standing in the way" said Majority Leader Harry Reid D-Nev.
Even with just 40 seats Republicans have opportunities to prevent Democrats from mustering the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin acknowledged. Forty senators is enough to mount a filibuster in a shorthanded Senate now at 99 members because of the contested Minnesota race.
As a whip you always run into a problem because somebodys going to be missing or sick or doesnt want to vote with you" Durbin said. Its the reality. So 60 is not magic. Its great to have better than 59. But no guarantees."
Reid meanwhile is also battling dissension within his own caucus and scrambling to secure enough votes to confirm another nominee Dawn Johnsen who is Obamas pick to head the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel
Reid said May 12 that he did not know when he would be able to bring Johnsens nomination to the floor adding that he was working to peel off a few Republicans but had not done so.
At least two Democrats Specter and Nebraskas Ben Nelson have said they will vote against Johnsen but have not indicated whether they would support cloture. Johnsen an Indiana University law professor has drawn fire from social conservatives for her previous work for abortion rights groups and for criticizing the OLCs counterterrorism policies during the George W. Bush administration.
Thune said GOP senators will be picking and choosing their battles to ensure some victories. Our ability to not only stop things that we think ought to be stopped but to also influence legislation is affected by our ability to stay together" Thune said.
