2016. Recent actions present conflicting
theories. First, Senate Democrats created
a new strategic policy adviser position
for liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.).
Next, they chose Sen. Jon Tester (Mont.), a
more moderate Democrat who is willing
to cross party lines, to chair the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
(DSCC), which selects and supports
Democratic Senate candidates. Further,
and reflecting its party’s need for change,
five Democratic Senators publicly noted
their objections to re-electing Democrat
Harry Reid (Nev.) as their party’s leader
in the Senate: Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.),
Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Mark Warner
(Va.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.) and Mary
Landrieu (La.).
What to Expect
In the Senate, incoming Majority
Leader McConnell will call more probusiness bills to the floor and force all
Senate members to vote on some of
FBS’ key legislative priorities. In fact,
Leader McConnell specifically mentioned
“restor[ing] the traditional 40-hour
definition of full-time employment”as
one of his first actions as leader. Unlike
his Democratic counterpart, Minority
Leader Harry Reid, McConnell has agreed
to consider Democratic amendments
and welcomes an open debate. Last year,
McConnell stated that, under his leadership, all bills would go through a bipartisan committee process before coming
to the floor and a“free and open amendment process”would be restored.
The House will continue to pass
pro-business legislation, acknowledging
the increased likelihood of bill passage
in the Senate. According to Speaker
Boehner,“[A]meri