Forward Kentucky: McConnell caves, Dems now actually running the Senate
By BRUCE MAPLES
Every two years, when a new U.S. Congress takes office, one of the first orders of business is getting organized. The House passes its “rules,” while the Senate passes an “organizing resolution.” The Senate resolution says who will be on what committees, who the chairs will be (all members of the majority), and other parts of the groundwork of the body. It’s normally passed easily and quickly, except when the Senate is evenly split, in which case it’s negotiated and then passed.
Except not this year. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed that the Senate adopt the same setup as the last time the Senate was 50-50 … but Minority Leader Mitch McConnell refused. The Dems had to add a clause saying publicly they would not get rid of the filibuster. And Schumer refused to do that.