CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
July 5, 2011 – 10:20 p.m.
Republican Freshmen Flex Their Procedural Muscles
By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff
Senate Republican freshmen—a baker’s dozen elected last year and another appointed after the resignation of Nevada’s
Their relative autonomy is not for lack of experience. Eight of them served in the House, and one of that group,
Still, they are proving to be a force. All of them say they oppose increasing the debt without accompanying spending cuts. They have been the driving force behind a proposed balanced-budget constitutional amendment now backed by all 47 Republican senators, as well as House leaders, that would limit federal spending to 18 percent of the gross domestic product. Six of the GOP freshmen vow to oppose any debt limit increase unless Congress sends a balanced-budget amendment to the states for ratification.
The newcomers are less cohesive on the question of revenue increases to reduce the budget deficit. Eight voted June 17 to support an amendment to an economic development bill (
But on Tuesday, the freshmen’s preference for unconventional tactics and reliance on old-fashioned nose counting helped dictate the Senate’s agenda. They effectively forced Majority Leader
Senior Republicans
The freshmen launched their effort last week, when several of them urged Senate leaders to focus on deficit reduction and the debt limit. Johnson vowed to block routine procedural motions if the Senate turned its attention away from the deficit and debt issue.
Johnson followed up the next day by warning that he would object to the Senate’s July Fourth recess. Reid later canceled the recess after President Obama called on Congress to get to work.
And Johnson said he may object to motions to suspend quorum calls, a move that upends the Senate’s operating procedures, if leaders stray from the debt limit and deficit this week.“We want to use the floor of the Senate to actually start solving problems,” Johnson said.
“It’s like everything else around here,” Paul said. “We have a victory. Now, we have to try to get something out of the victory.”