“To Fix Congress, Make It Bigger. Much Bigger.”
Lee Drutman for Washington Monthly.
Category Archives: legislation and legislatures
“How the Senate Got Its Groove Back With the Power of the Purse”
NYT:
Against the backdrop of rising partisan rancor over the Supreme Court vacancy, an unlikely bipartisan breakthrough is quietly taking place in the Senate, where the annual spending bills are advancing in a way that hasn’t been seen in years.… Continue reading
“Frustrated by Gridlock, House Members Propose Rules Overhaul”
NYT:
Trying to ease gridlock in Congress, a bipartisan group of frustrated House members is coming forward with a rules overhaul intended to give rank-and-file lawmakers more say.
The proposal, to be formally unveiled Wednesday by the House Problem Solvers… Continue reading
“Should Democrats Have Saved Their Filibuster for the New Court Fight?”
NYT, CouldWouldaShoulda Dept: “Now, as the Senate faces another court vacancy — one that could tilt the court’s ideological balance and cement a conservative majority — the Democrats have few tools to fight the nomination. A different outcome last… Continue reading
Litigating to a Larger House of Representatives Based on a Secretly Ratified Constitutional Amendment?
It is no secret that the size of Congressional districts is dramatically larger now than at the time of the ratification of the Constitution. Many have argued over the years that we would have better representation if we increased the… Continue reading
“Lobbying: The Job of Choice for Retired Members of Congress”
“Filibusters are Not for Shutdowns”
“As Gridlock Deepens in Congress, Only Gloom Is Bipartisan”
“California must elect 12,000 people to end ‘corruption,’ candidate for governor says”
SacBee:
John Cox, a Republican running for governor, has a radical plan to shake up politics in California. He’s explaining it to everybody who will listen.
Running on the slogan “Clean Out the Barn,” a pastoral-themed variation of President Donald… Continue reading
“The House-Senate Tax Conference: A Byrd’s Eye View”
Technical but important post from Daniel Hemel and Ellen Aprill.
“Menendez could remain in Senate even if he’s convicted”
Politico:
But expelling Menendez — even if he is convicted of a felony — might not be that easy.
Republicans need a two-thirds majority in the Senate to agree to expel a member, which means they would need Democratic votes.… Continue reading
McConnell’s Spokesperson Backpedals on McConnell Killing Blue Slips for Judges
Following up on this post, HuffPost reports:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will continue to honor the blue slip rule ― an arcane but hugely consequential Senate tradition that lets lawmakers block a president’s judicial nominees from their… Continue reading
Sen. McConnell Says He’s Killing Blue Slips for Judicial Nominees, with Potential to Shift Federal Appeals Courts to Far Right
Weekly Standard:
No longer will “blue slips” be allowed to deny a nominee a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and vote on confirmation. In the past, senators have sometimes barred a nominee from their state by refusing to return their slip… Continue reading
“Menendez Is Denied Reprieve From Corruption Trial to Cast Senate Votes”
NYT:
When the 115th Congress returns to Washington on Sept. 5, Senator Robert Menendez will likely be absent: His federal corruption trial is set to begin here the following day.
But when the Senate moves to vote on major bills… Continue reading