Senators Steve Daines and Jeff Merkley propose sweeping changes to Senate rules to expedite bipartisan legislation, strengthen committees, and increase amendment votes. But their reforms would also limit debate and restrict individual senators’ ability to offer amendments, shifting power from the full Senate to a subset of its members.

Has the Senate always relied on cloture to overcome obstruction and pass legislation? The historical record says no.

A four-part rules reform package would address frustrations in both parties and help the Senate deliberate and legislate more effectively.

This piece lays out how existing procedures can be used to move the process forward without nuking the rules.