The regime of new Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is promising a sharp break from that of his predecessor Harry Reid, Politico reports.
Schumer, a New Yorker, has appointed a sprawling leadership team and has promised to consult them before making key decisions — compared to the retiring Reid's smaller group of lieutenants and his tendency to take a hardline approach, the website notes.
"This is one of Chuck Schumer's real strengths," Politico quotes Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, the new fourth-ranking Senate Democrat.
"He believes in a big-tent approach. He likes to brainstorm and hear from everyone so he feels he can make the best decision."
Schumer's break with Reid's approach has become obvious already. Politico notes that while Reid attacked Donald Trump after the election, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., lashed out at Reid.
In the end, Schumer picked Manchin to join his leadership team — a group of 10 senators that includes Manchin on one end of the political spectrum and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on the other, according to Politico.
But as the new Republican-dominated Congress is seated on Tuesday, Democrats will have to decide just how strongly they want to battle President-elect Trump.
CNN reports they will likely try to make the coming months as politically bruising as possible — focusing in on the confirmation hearings for those nominated by Trump for seats on his Cabinet.
The news network reports those targets include secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson and attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions.
"If Republicans think they can jam through a whole slate of nominees without a fair hearing process, they are sorely mistaken," says Schumer.
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