Poli Alert Political & Civics
Related Articles
After winning a small majority in the chamber, the Senate has approved a power-sharing agreement giving Democrats control of committees.
“I am happy to report this morning that the leadership of both parties have finalized the organizing resolution for the Senate,” Democrat Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor.
“We will pass the resolution through the Senate today, which means that committees can promptly set up and get to work with Democrats holding the gavels.”
The Democratic party gained control over the Senate in January after Georgia voters elected a pair of Democrats to the Senate.
But, without the recent signing of the power-sharing agreement, the party could not take control of crucial committees because the chamber was acting under the last Congress’s regulations when Republicans were in charge, CNN reports.
The agreement between Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell allowed both parties to determine how to divide power in the Senate, due to an “even partisan split” 50-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaking vote.
Without the agreement, Republicans have created trouble for Democrats and hindered President Joe Biden’s Cabinet nominees’ consideration.
“This power-sharing agreement is almost identical to the 2001 agreement and will allow the Senate to be fairly run as an evenly-split body,” McConnell said in a statement after the agreement was approved.
With the new agreement, the Democrats committee has the tools need to “not waste any time” and “hit the ground running on the most important issues that face our country.”
