Opinion - Republicans have an opportunity to transform party with Senate leadership vote
President Trump’s big victory Tuesday is an emphatic statement by the American people that they demand an end to business as usual in Washington.
The new Republican Senate majority now has a historic opportunity to continue the transformation of the Republican Party from establishment politics to effective advocacy for the people, or we might say, the common good. Doing so can establish the Republican Party as the majority party for a generation.
A growing number of Republican senators see this opportunity. Yet it appears that a majority may not. On trade, immigration, spending and foreign wars, the people have been right and the establishment wrong. No one should lead the Senate Republicans who will not be an articulate and honest advocate for the basic Trump agenda: tariffs to protect manufacturing from unfair trade, ending illegal immigration and opposition to unrealistic U.S. participation in foreign conflicts. It would be a disaster if this new GOP majority would fail to unite in passionate advocacy for the agenda that was ratified by the recent election.
I served in the Senate for 20 years. I know how it works. I know the friendships, the accommodations, the deals and the local interests that are a reality. But this Senate leadership election must transcend such matters. Greater things are at stake than side deals or collegiality. This does not mean the great Senate is to be a mere rubber stamp. But Republican voters need the Senate leaders who share their vision for a better America.
What should be done?
A major problem now is that once again Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is forcing the leadership votes immediately after the elections, before the new senators are even seated, which is a tactic to advantage establishment insiders and protect them from open examination. In fact, the GOP conference rules state that the internal elections should be held in January — and frankly, the vote should be delayed at least until then to allow for open races to be called.
There is some good news. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) is taking the initiative to host a candidate forum for the conference to hear from the declared candidates for leader: Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and John Thune (R-S.D.). This is a small but valuable step in this rushed process.
There must also be changes to how the Republican conference participates in the legislative process. The current leadership of both parties has arrogated to themselves unjustified power to control debate and what amendments are voted on. There is no constitutional or statutory authority given to Senate majority leaders. They serve an important role, but only by the consent of the majority. Many excellent senators are raising issues in this regard that need addressing. If the leader acts as a shop foreman and the members simply acquiesce, the Senate fails in its historic role.
Another critical reform is to term limit the Republican leader. Every other position within the Republican leadership structure is limited to a term of six years except for the leader. McConnell openly opposes this change, saying it will limit his ability to fundraise. I disagree. Any vigorous leader can raise money. Moreover, the Senate Republican conference is immensely talented and will benefit from a regular rotation at the top.
Finally, the position of majority leader is a most challenging one. It requires constant work, judgment, ability to build support, mastery of data and policy and the ability to speak in a winsome way. Building support for good policies, inside and outside of the Senate chamber, is demanding. No senator should seek the job unless he or she is willing to embrace it wholeheartedly. Rallying support, raising campaign funds, taking on the opposition and rebutting the often-hostile media is critical.
Whoever is next at the helm will have the ability to reinvigorate the Senate and implement the agenda chosen by the voters. The American people have given us their direction: They want the Senate to move quickly and aggressively to enact the promises of this campaign. Half-hearted efforts are not acceptable. The next Republican leader must be totally and publicly committed to this task.
Jeff Sessions served as the 84th attorney general of the United States and as the U.S. senator from Alabama from 1997 to 2017.
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