VP of Programs at Conservative Partnership Institute. Header from @Jacobin.
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Feb 15 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Yes, something has been amiss.
There is zero debate or floor process for any bill, the Senate barely even legislates any more outside of must-pass bills, the committees have become huge and unwieldy which renders committee membership meaningless outside of performative hearing moments, individual senators have no say in the construction of massive pieces of must pass legislation - the contents of which are leaked downtown before Senators are even told. Senators basically have no idea what’s going on, they just show up to rubber stamp nominees 3-5x a week during their 2.5 day workweek where all their food is chewed for them by a handful of leadership staff.
The Senate is the world’s most powerful deliberative body. It is a majestic institution. It is now run like an adult daycare.
I should also add that deliberation - the quality which makes the Senate unique - has been completely subordinated to the political terror of voting. On anything. Everyone is scared of it.
