New Majority Leader Thune kicks off Senate session with pledge to preserve filibuster

AP ^ | January 3, 2025 Updated 2:18 PM EST | MARY CLARE JALONICK

[UMCRevMom@aol.com]

New Senate Majority Leader John Thune is kicking off the new session with a promise to preserve the filibuster, saying in his first floor speech as leader that his priority will be to “ensure the Senate stays the Senate.”

Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Republicans are taking power on Friday a little more than two weeks before Donald Trump will be inaugurated, cementing a firm GOP hold on Washington. And Thune will have to navigate his new responsibilities along with the new president, who has made clear he expects allegiance from Congress – and has previously called for eliminating the filibuster.

Opening up the two-year Senate session Friday after new and returning senators were sworn in, Thune said the legislative tactic that allows senators to delay consideration of a measure and require 60 votes for passage has “perhaps the greatest impact in preserving the Founders’ vision of the Senate.”

“There are a lot of people out there who would like to see the Senate turn into a copy of the House of Representatives,” Thune said. “And that is not what our founders intended or what our country needs.”

[politicket]

“And that is not what our founders intended or what our country needs.” The Senate filibuster was created in 1806 - not something the original founders put in place.

Is Thune rewriting history?

[BobL]

Expected, he’d never get 50 votes to kill the Filibuster anyway.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“There are a lot of people out there who would like to see the Senate turn into a copy of the House of Representatives”

' I've got some bad news for you, Thune. That ship sailed on April 8, 1913 when the 17th Amendment was ratified.

[Sacajaweau]

The original founders were pretty much all around in 1806.

[stars & stripes forever]

h/t edie1960

Damon Roberts on Live From Studio 6B just reported that Thune has appointed none other than freshman CA Senator Adam SCHIFF to the JUDICIARY Committee!!!!

[combat_boots]

Thunk can have his own sack

[iamgalt]

Why make that the 1st thing you announce? let the rats wonder a bit

[Deo volente]

That was Schumer who appointed Schiff. It’s a tactical move to confirm some leftist judges. Schumer is still in charge until the new Senate is sworn in.
I copied this:

California’s senator is joining the Senate Judiciary Committee to sustain the panel’s Democratic majority amid efforts to confirm President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees before Republicans take control of the White House and Senate.

Adam Schiff replaces interim senator Laphonza Butler, who served out the remainder of Dianne Feinstein’s term following her passing in September of 2023.

The move preserves the panel’s 11-10 Democrat majority, as two California district court picks are slated for committee votes Thursday: Benjamin Cheeks for the Southern District of California and Serena Raquel Murillo for the Central District of California.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Vote on it. Have 50 republicans vote to get rid of it. See if just one democrat joins in. Call their bluff.

[FlyingEagle]

Thune schmuck put Schitt on Judiciary.

Shafted Repubs day 1.

[fastrock]

Congress WILL NOT put term limits on themselves.
What We The People can do is repeal the Constitution’s 17th Amendment.

Prior to the 17th, the individual States, either the Governor or State House and/or State Senate selected your 2 Senators AND the State’s had immediate RECALL authority as outlined in the State’s Constitution. Today a Senator is accountable to no one but their next election.

17th Amendment has no RECALL provision for Senators. Adding, changing or repealing a Constitutional Amendment is a long torturous path to success.

But Senators need to be accountable to someone other than themselves - but IMHO the 17th is an absolute necessity.

[ducttape45]

If Thune REALLY wanted to do what the founding fathers put in place, there would be no direct election of senators. That would go back to the states, which is where it should have never left.

It's time to repeal the 17th and 19th Amendments, take away voting rights from women and put the senator selections back to the state governments.

[chiller]

Noble sentiment, Thune, but meaningless, and non-binding once Ds are majority in the senate.

[cowboyusa]

Yes, the recall mechanism needs to be added in.

[cowboyusa]

I would keep the Pipular Elections, but then institute recalls if the State Legislature or a Majority of the State’s voters approve it.

[gibsonguy]

This is the difference the rats had every intention of doing this and it would have been catastrophic.They came within 2 votes. Next time they will do it

[BobL]

“This is the difference the rats had every intention of doing this and it would have been catastrophic.They came within 2 votes. Next time they will do it.”

Yep, we’re stuck with that crap.

[MayflowerMadam]

Schumer did it, not Thune, I believe.

[hanamizu]

“perhaps the greatest impact in preserving the Founders’ vision of the Senate.”

---

The Founder’s vision of the Senate was that the Senate represented the state governments while the House represented the people. That’s why the Senate has the power to ratify appointments to the Cabinet, the Supreme Court and ratification of treaties. If appointments and treaties were seen as harmful to the state governments, the Senate could stop them.

As others have noted, this vision of the Founders ended with the 17th Amendment.