How Mitch McConnell and "regular order" will make the Senate better -- for conservatives too

But some Republicans see the restoration as even more significant for the majority party than for the minority. “The reason why that is so important is not because of Republican versus Democrat, but because of the tension between rank and file and leadership,” says another GOP aide. “Outside the Senate, there might be some conservatives who say, ‘Why do you want to offer Democrats amendments when for years Democrats didn’t offer them to Republicans?’ But what if there’s a big immigration bill? Do you want the Republican rank-and-file not to be able to offer amendments?”

In that sense, by opening up the Senate, McConnell could be buying himself some headaches from his own party. Indeed, it could be argued that the move will empower some of the Republican senators — Ted Cruz and Mike Lee come to mind — who have sometimes antagonized the leadership. Some might see that as a green light for them to make trouble.

“Nonsense,” says an aide to Lee. “I wouldn’t characterize a senator exercising his or her institutional rights as ‘making trouble.’ What it will do is allow each senator the right to fully represent the interests of their constituents and finally get back to a substantive debate on policy reforms.”