In the event Senate Republicans recapture the chamber in November, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah., has laid out a series of procedural modifications he would like to see a GOP majority implement in order to streamline a conservative agenda.
Lee's proposal is seeking a revised strategy to decentralized party rule giving Republicans more of an effective voice in negotiations, Politico reported Monday
Lee noted in his letter the historical context of the opportunity to choose a new leader for Senate Republicans during a time of "unprecedented political tensions" adding that his call for unity was less about electing an individual than "setting the course for the Senate's role in our nation's future."
"One of the fundamental issues we face is that our current processes are shutting out the people we represent," Lee wrote. "Most Americans would be shocked to learn that their senators often cannot offer amendments to legislation.
"'Filling the tree' has become commonplace in recent years. Since [Democrat] Sen. Harry Reid began centralizing the process in the early 2010s, the vast majority of senators have been largely excluded from the legislative process for most bills."
Filling the amendment tree refers to a process by which the majority leader can prevent amendments to legislation from being voted on.
With outgoing GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., set to retire from his leadership position after almost two decades, several Republican senators are vying for the position.
Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, John Thune, R-S.D., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., are the most likely candidates.
Some of Lee's proposals include:
- Equal Representation: Currently, most senators are blocked from making amendments to bills that directly impact the lives of their constituents. Lee is proposing a three-fourths majority in conference before a tree can be filled.
- More Time for Debate and Deliberation: Noting that most massive spending bills are given to senators hours before a deadline, Lee has proposed four weeks to debate and amended any omnibus spending bills.
- Strategically Advance Republican Policies: Lee noted that over the past several decades Republicans are often put in the position of "advancing Democrat priorities" when legislation has a fixed deadline.
Lee concluded by encouraging additional thoughts from his Republican colleagues and emphasized the need for the GOP to "negotiate from a position of strength and bring real conservative voices to our conference."
According to the latest analysis from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, the Republicans have a 71% chance of taking the Senate in November.