Democratic unity during the Trump era was one of Schumer’s successes, but it was much easier to achieve in the minority. In the majority, he needs to get Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on board with Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) and Kyrsten Cinema (D-Ariz.), Over and over and over again, otherwise Joe Biden’s agenda will come to a halt quickly.
“What unites us is a desire to improve the lives of the American people. What sets us apart is strategy, tactics, ”said Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). Republicans, he said, are “divided not by ideology, but whether one supports the tenet of democracy itself, or not. And it seems like a harder caucus to run.”
Schumer spoke with Biden on Wednesday morning, saying he had promised Biden’s government that he would have a ‘partner’ in the Senate Democracy caucus, which would promote a ‘daring change’. But he said he had not yet spoken to GOP leader Mitch McConnell, and the two would have to put their bad blood aside to determine how the Senate control would work exactly with the chamber evenly divided and that a Vice President Kamala Harris severed ties.
Schumer, who will be the first Jewish majority leader, once had close relations with key GOP senators such as John Cornyn of Texas and John Thune of South Dakota, and sometimes served as a negotiator before the channel before becoming a Democratic leader. But the Republicans are now pushing for Schumer to overpower them.
Even Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who previously worked with Schumer in the Senate Gymnasium and repeated many democratic criticisms of Trump, laments that Schumer will not be “as good as Mitch McConnell would have been and was.” “as majority leader. Still, he said they enjoy a good relationship.
One difference between Schumer and McConnell, which is shrinking, is that Schumer is in constant contact with his members and they constantly call on his flip phone, which rang several times at Wednesday’s press conference. That will not change, say allies, and Schumer made calls all morning Wednesday from Democrats. Schumer said he also spoke to Warnock and Ossoff several times Tuesday night from his home in Brooklyn when he followed the election.
But Democrats said they expect the Senate floor to look very different – and more active – than under McConnell, who favored judicial nominations and legislation he could pass by a majority vote. The Republican of Kentucky has largely strayed from major debates over immigration reform or infrastructure, which would require Democratic procurement to get the required super-majority needed for most legislation.
“I have a friend where you ask him how he’s doing, he always says, ‘Compared to what? ‘So, compared to our current leader, [Schumer] will be a big improvement, ”said Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.). “He believes that when bills come to the floor, we should have the opportunity to debate them and offer amendments to them. So it will be a change. ”
How far the party will go remains to be seen. Manchin is already calling for a new era of bipartisanship in Washington, while others want to see Democrats accept ambitious progressive proposals – and dominate Republicans, if necessary.
“Democrats need to deliver,” Senator Warren (D-Mass.) Said in a recent interview. “There are things we can do without the Democratic Senate. But much more can we do if we are in a Democratic Senate. ”
Warren has partnered with Schumer to push Biden to use his executive power to unilaterally cancel student loans, and Senate Democrats will consider doing the same on other issues. Although it is unlikely to kill the filibuster, the party can, by a simple majority, pass important legislation through budget reconciliation. Both Trump’s tax cuts and the Affordable Care Act have been passed on through this maneuver.
The first place is Covid aid, and Schumer said the Senate would specifically focus on approving $ 2,000 stimulus checks, on which Ossoff and Warnock campaigned. Schumer did not want to say on Wednesday whether it would be a closely amended bill as the House passed in December or the basis of a larger emergency relief package.
But if he finds out his agenda and how to get Biden’s cabinet confirmed, the Senate card will always be on Schumer’s mind. In many ways, the top priority of a Senate Majority Leader is to remain the Senate Majority Leader, and 2022 is going to be a tough battle for Senate control. Warnock will be available for a full term, and a handful of swing states will see competitive racing.
Some of Schumer’s members want to see his government get a purple color, even if the Democrats regain full control of Washington for the first time in a decade.
“We need people to work across the aisle,” said Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Who is also eligible for re-election. “Sometimes we see a lot of it, sometimes not. It is important for the future of our country that Democrats and Republicans work together to solve these problems, regardless of who is in charge. ”