DeMint to Promote Reform with Rules Changes

Press Release

DeMint to Promote Reform with Rules Changes

Proposes nine reforms to GOP Senate Conference rules including term limits for leader and appropriations members

Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) notified his colleagues that he will seek votes on nine reforms at the next Senate Republican Conference organizational meeting.

"Republicans must respond to defeat in the past elections by taking bold action. We must reform our own party and prove we will correct past mistakes so we can earn back the trust of the American people," said Senator DeMint. "As Republicans fight for a merit-based society where hard work is rewarded, we should operate by the same philosophy in the United States Senate."

"If we ever want Americans to trust us again, we can't just say we're sorry. We must put procedures in place that prevent us from being changed and corrupted by power in Washington," said Senator DeMint.

Senator DeMint will seek votes on the following reforms:

1. Extend the current six-year term limit on our elected leaders to the Republican Floor Leader and President Pro-Tempore. Our current leader could serve six more years.

2. Create a new six-year term limit on Republican Senators serving on the Appropriations committee. Current members could serve two more years.

3. Repeal the loophole that exempts Appropriations Cardinals from the ban on full Committee Chair/Rankers from heading subcommittees.

4. Count time spent as Chairman toward the current six-year limit on ranking membership.

5. Apply the requirement that subcommittee Chairmen be afforded staff dollars to subcommittee ranking members. Prevent full Chairmen from being able to fire subcommittee staff.

6. Require secret ballots in all leadership and committee elections.

7. Reform the "hotline" process used to establish "unanimous consent" so mega-bills would require affirmative support of all Republican offices before it would be considered "cleared" on the Republican side.

8. Abolish the antiquated seniority system so that the President Pro-Tempore, and Committee Chair/Ranking Members would be elected based on merit.

9. Require steps are taken to protect all Senator' rights to offer amendments, as the Democrat Leader has continually insisted on blocking, changing and picking Republican amendments.

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