Chuck Schumer, Lamar Alexander might have solution to fixing Senate

washingtonpost.com ^ | 3/10/14 | Ed Okeefe and Paul Kane

[cotton1706]

In the next few days, the Senate will begin debate on the reauthorization of a child-care development block-grant program — a small, relatively noncontroversial program that is likely to pass.

In this case, it’s not the “what” of the effort that’s most important but the “how.” The debate is expected to take a different course, with both sides getting equal time to make arguments and offer amendments — a practice that has pretty much all but disappeared in the increasingly partisan Senate.

Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) is expected to cede control of the floor to the bill’s lead sponsors, Sens. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), who will lead the debate and allow Democrats and Republicans to introduce amendments.

More important — if it works — Reid is expected to permit more debate on other bipartisan measures on subjects ranging from sentencing overhauls to manufacturing and energy efficiency. In some small ways, the Senate may begin to look more like the great deliberative body it’s supposed to be.

Two people who get much of the credit for this development are Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who arguably have developed the most important friendship in the Senate in recent years.

[SeaHawkFan]

If Shumer and Alexander are involved, one thing is certain. It is not a solution.

[depressed in 06]

Yes Lamar, bring UpChuckie down to campaign for you.

[gusty]

The positive spin you can see from this is that Schumer might be tipping his hand that he sees a loss in November, and he is making his move to throw Dingy Harry out of his way and take his job as Minority Leader in 2015. Remember all these guys are politicians. They are not loyal to anyone or anything but themselves and their careers.