Deterring Harry Reid’s nuclear option

While I disagree with his underlying assertion, if he is going to break the rules to change the rules with a 51-vote threshold, then I will fight back by offering a series of rules changes that will improve the Senate. But instead of stepping on the rights of most senators, my changes will enhance the rights of all Americans and restore constitutional order in the Senate. Each of these could be passed with a simple majority, but would require a two-thirds vote to waive later. Among my many proposed rule changes are:

• Each year’s budget must be balanced.

• A point of order demanding enumerated constitutional authority for any piece of legislation.

• A point of order protecting each one of the amendments in the Bill of Rights. Any senator could, at any time and as a privileged motion, assert that a bill violated one of the first 10 amendments.

• A waiting period of 20 days for each page of legislation.

• A sunset provision on all major new legislation.