Senate rules would change under sweeping bipartisan proposal

Two senators, Jeff Merkley and Steve Daines, have introduced a bipartisan proposal aimed at reforming the Senate's rules and addressing its frequent inefficiencies. The senators, from Oregon and Montana respectively, are not looking to abolish the filibuster, but rather to create a more efficient legislative process. Merkley, a rules expert, and Daines, who is retiring, have more momentum behind their proposal than initially expected.

The senators have four main requests: eliminate cloture votes to initiate debate on nominees, bills, and amendments, reduce the intervening day before a vote to end a filibuster, establish a fast-track suspension calendar for bills, and give committee leaders a one-day fast-track for popular bills with bipartisan support. The proposal would still allow the Senate minority to block party-line bills without broad support, but would prohibit a single senator from blocking bills with overwhelming support.

The senators have discussed their proposal with President Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who have all expressed support for the initiative. The senators hope to pass the proposal with a 67-vote threshold, despite recent changes to Senate norms that were made using the unilateral "nuclear option."