For our discussionof how party leaders attempt to manage their party's rank and file, in this case the Senate.
From the Hill:
Some Democrats are grumbling over how Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has run the floor this year.
The frustration is felt mostly among junior lawmakers, who want more of a role in decision-making and have yet to resign themselves to the traditional pace of the Senate, where seniority rules and lawmakers often have to wait years to have significant influence.
Resentment stems from Reid's decision to work with Republicans over recent legislation without consulting them:
But while Reid’s decisive action could help him check off accomplishments and pressure House Republicans, some Democrats feel like he’s sometimes running ahead without them.
“There’s a brewing frustration about how the last few things were managed,” said a Senate Democratic aide, who added that some senators have felt shut out of leadership decisions. “There’s a discontent with the rank and file that people have not been read into the process.”
The feeling is that bills are rushed to floor without giving traditional Democratic supporters time to weign in on content.
