Sen. John Thune (R-SD) will promise to maintain the filibuster on Friday afternoon in his first speech as Senate majority leader.
“One of my priorities as leader will be to ensure that the Senate stays the Senate,” Thune will say, according to excerpts of his floor remarks provided to the Washington Examiner. “That means preserving the legislative filibuster — the Senate rule that today has perhaps the greatest impact in preserving the Founders’ vision of the Senate.”
Republicans broadly support preserving the 60-vote threshold, which in most cases forces compromise to pass legislation through the Senate, but President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly opposed the filibuster during his first term.
The 119th Congress will commence at noon Friday, marking the end of Democratic control led by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Democrats’ 51-49 majority will flip to a 53-47 Republican majority once all new members are sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris. Sen.-elect Jim Justice (R-WV) opted to delay taking office until his term as West Virginia governor ends on Jan. 13.
The new Congress will also mark the first time in 18 years that Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the longest-serving Senate party leader, will not be leading the GOP conference. He will become a rank-and-file member but is expected to play an important role in influencing the direction of his party.
Thune will say he also envisions “restoring the Senate as a place of discussion and deliberation” as the GOP seeks to tackle a litany of major policy matters, including border security, extending Trump-era tax cuts set to expire this year, a long overdue farm bill, government spending measures, and national defense.
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“That includes empowering committees, restoring regular order, and engaging in extended debate on the Senate floor, where all members should have a chance to make their voices — and the voices of their constituents — heard,” Thune will say. “We have a lot to do this Congress.”
Among the Senate’s most immediate priorities will be confirming Trump’s Cabinet nominees, who could begin receiving confirmation hearings as early as next week. Thune has laid out an ambitious work schedule this year for the Senate, with fewer recesses and five-day weeks, as opposed to the usual four.
