Bipartisan senators propose rule tweaks to speed Senate action without ending filibuster

Jeff Merkley and Steve Daines are pushing a bipartisan Senate rule reform that would fast-track legislation meeting specific bipartisan criteria without abolishing the filibuster. Their seven-page draft proposes a one-day debate process for robustly bipartisan bills, eliminates cloture votes on designated items, and removes the mandatory intervening day before a vote. It also shortens the maximum 30-hour post-debate window to 12 hours and calls for a “true talking filibuster,” requiring senators to be present and speaking to block a vote.

The plan retains the 60-vote requirement for final passage, aiming to preserve deliberation while cutting procedural drag. Merkley and Daines say they have presented the ideas to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both of whom must consent to any rule changes. The proposal’s fate remains uncertain.