Senate Democrats have rejected a proposal by Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to preserve the 60-vote legislative filibuster as part of a power-sharing agreement. Democrats are seeking to prevent a minority of senators from derailing ambitious legislation like President Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package. McConnell has threatened to block an organizing resolution laying out rules and committee assignments for the new Senate session, unless Democrats agree to maintain the filibuster.
Meanwhile, Senator McConnell called on Democrats Thursday to delay former President Trump’s impeachment trial until February in order to give Trump’s legal team more time to prepare. His call came as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would send the article of impeachment to the Senate soon.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “The fact is, the president of the United States committed an act of incitement of insurrection. I don’t think it’s very unifying to say, 'Oh, let's just forget it and move on.’”