House Republicans aren't content to just throw their own chamber into chaos. They want to mess with Mitch McConnell's Senate, too, and are trying to do it officially, even though they have no authority over Senate rules.
With House Republican leaders saying they want to expand opportunities for members to debate legislation on the floor, some GOP rank and file are asking Senate GOP leaders to do the same.
Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., became the latest to formally request the other chamber change its procedures. He is planning to introduce a resolution calling on the Senate to limit use of the filibuster on the motion to proceed. […]
The Arizona Republican said his resolution calls for an adjustment in the filibuster rules, not an end to the procedural tool. He cited the filibuster as “one of the hidden-in-plain-sight reasons” for what he said was the false perception that Republicans are unwilling to attack President Barack Obama’s policies.
Franks’ resolution comes after Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, sent a letter, co-signed by 56 House Republicans, to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., urging the Senate to modify the filibuster rules so that some bills could be approved by a simple-majority vote.
Nothing the House says can force the Senate to change its rules. However, McConnell is not immune to pressure from the rabid base, just like John Boehner wasn’t. He's got Ted Cruz running a presidential campaign on the premise of opposing him, and a handful of other new guys who are all for forcing more fights on the White House. They don't seem to mind the idea of accomplishing nothing other than making President Obama veto things. That, in fact, seems to be their whole reason for being.
On the other hand, you can imagine how excited the longer-serving Senate Republicans are to have lesser beings like House members tell them how to run things. Or how the "old bulls" feel about their own new senators pushing for the change. Nonetheless, McConnell is having to deal with it. He's got a working group looking at various options, and will have to face the House Republicans and give them something in a meeting scheduled for next week.