{"id":2400894,"date":"2025-02-10T07:51:01","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T12:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-breakfast-club-now-wields-the-gavel-power\/"},"modified":"2025-02-10T07:54:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T12:54:05","slug":"senate-breakfast-club-now-wields-the-gavel-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-breakfast-club-now-wields-the-gavel-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Breakfast Club now wields the gavel power"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenate-breakfast-club-now-wields-the-gavel-power%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2400894&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The recent shift\u200b in the republican majority in the \u2062Senate has empowered a group known \u200bas the &#8220;Breakfast Club,&#8221; which comprises conservative senators who have gained notable committee chairmanships. This development marks \u2064a crucial transition as these senators,who have \u2064historically challenged Senate leadership,now <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/op-ed-conservatives-win-when-evangelicals-play-the-long-game\/\" title=\"... thrive when Evangelicals strategize for the long haul.\">wield considerable influence<\/a> over legislative agendas. For instance, Senators \u200bTed Cruz (Commerce \u2063Committee) and Rand Paul (Homeland Security) are utilizing thier new\u200d positions to\u2063 aggressively push their priorities, including rapid confirmation of President Donald Trump&#8217;s\u2064 Cabinet nominees \u2063and scrutinizing issues like COVID-19 federal responses.<\/p>\n<p>the chairmanships provide\u2064 them with the ability to shape committee agendas and exercise subpoena power, thus enhancing their leverage in investigations and policy-making. The group\u2019s actions reflect a more confrontational and less compromising approach than prior Republican leadership,with a focus on addressing issues that align with their conservative beliefs. In light of recent political dynamics, the Breakfast \u2062Club\u2019s rise suggests a shift in Senate influence and strategy, positioning them to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">significantly \u2062impact legislation moving forward<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Senate Breakfast Club wields gavel power in new GOP majority<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1983985\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate-republicans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Senate conservatives<\/a> are pushing the limits of their influence after they were handed committee gavels in the new Republican majority.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Nearly every member of the Breakfast Club, an informal band of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fiscal-conservatism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">fiscal hawks<\/a>, was doled out a chairmanship at the start of the new Congress, marking a dramatic rise to power for five men who spent years <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2916641\/mcconnells-mutiny-gop-leader-helped-elect-most-vocal-critics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">needling Senate leadership<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Two became chairmen after serving as the top Republican in the minority: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) took over the Commerce Committee, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) runs Homeland Security.<\/p>\n<p>Two more rose to the top of their committee for the first time: Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) was named Energy chairman, while Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) leads the Aging panel.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), the fifth Breakfast Club member, assumed control of Paul&rsquo;s subcommittee on investigations.<\/p>\n<p>The chairmanships afford each senator the power to set the agenda, deciding what bills get brought before the committee and which hearings are scheduled.<\/p>\n<p>The coveted subpoena power, meanwhile, allows the chairmen to compel testimony or demand documents under threat of contempt of Congress.<\/p>\n<p>The conservatives have wasted no time exercising their newfound authority as Republicans work to confirm President Donald Trump&rsquo;s Cabinet nominees quickly, with Lee in particular taking a sharp-elbowed approach to confirmation hearings.<\/p>\n<p>He initially scheduled two of them without all paperwork in hand, ignoring the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3281036\/trump-nominees-confirmation-delays-inauguration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">complaints<\/a> of Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), the top Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Ordinarily, the panel is an island of bipartisanship.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, two Breakfast Club Republicans have moved to centralize subpoena power. The Homeland Security &amp; Governmental Affairs Committee amended its rules so that Paul, as chairman, can now issue subpoenas unilaterally.<\/p>\n<p>On other Senate panels, a subpoena requires buy-in from the ranking member or a full committee vote.<\/p>\n<p>Cruz&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/punchbowl.news\/article\/senate\/ted-cruz-seeks-unilateral-subpoena-power\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">moved<\/a>&nbsp;to give himself unilateral authority as well, scheduling a meeting to change the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee&rsquo;s rules, but he was apparently met with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/punchbowl.news\/article\/white-house\/white-house-trump-subpoena-power\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">resistance<\/a>&nbsp;from the White House over his desire to crack down on Big Tech.<\/p>\n<p>Cruz&nbsp;later postponed the committee hearing.<\/p>\n<p>The early steps suggest the aggressive approach that will be taken by a crop of Republicans not used to compromise.<\/p>\n<p>Senators like Cruz have moved in the direction of bipartisanship, helping to pass a sweeping air travel and safety bill last year while in the minority. But he is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2636506\/ted-cruzs-next-battleground\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">at heart the same firebrand<\/a> who came to prominence waging a shutdown fight over Obamacare in 2013.<\/p>\n<p>Lee has incentive to work together with Heinrich, as both represent Western states with areas for common ground, but he also revels in using Senate rules to outmaneuver the Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>Until January, Lee led the Steering Committee, a conservative bloc akin to the Freedom Caucus that regularly huddles on floor strategy.<\/p>\n<p>He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3288325\/rick-scott-elected-steering-committee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">handed the committee<\/a> over to Scott, who has used the position to introduce Senate Republicans to influential members of the Trump White House. Scott has so far brought Susie Wiles, Trump&rsquo;s chief of staff, and Stephen Miller, his policy adviser, to weekly lunches attended by most of the conference.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), center, flanked by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), left, and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), speaks to reporters as the GOP lawmakers criticize the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-gop-plots-maximum-pain-for-democrats-dismissing-mayorkas-impeachment-trial\/\" title=\"... plan to inflict &#039;maximum pain&#039; on Democrats by rejecting Mayorkas impeachment trial\">current border security bill<\/a> being negotiated, during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The rise of the Breakfast Club, named after their morning get-togethers, means priorities that have previously been marginalized are now given serious investigative focus.<\/p>\n<p>Paul, a critic of the federal pandemic response, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hsgac.senate.gov\/media\/reps\/dr-paul-issues-subpoenas-to-fourteen-agencies-regarding-covid-19-origins-and-risky-gain-of-function-research\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">subpoenaed<\/a> 14 federal agencies last month over COVID-19 and so-called gain-of-function research.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ronjohnson.senate.gov\/2025\/1\/psi-chairman-johnson-subpoenas-hhs-for-records-on-covid-19-vaccine-safety-dr-fauci-s-communications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">subpoenaed<\/a> the Department of Health and Human Services for the emails of Dr. Anthony Fauci, Trump&rsquo;s COVID-19 czar, as well as documents related to vaccine safety.<\/p>\n<p>The two men are unlikely to be stonewalled with Trump in the White House.<\/p>\n<p>The chairmanships are also an opportunity to bring forward their favored pieces of legislation. Cruz has already ushered through his committee a ban on social media for children under 13 with overwhelming bipartisan support.<\/p>\n<p>The sheer breadth of the committee&rsquo;s jurisdiction means that he will have other opportunities to shape everything from transportation safety to how college athletes are compensated.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3305517\/faa-leadership-in-limbo-deadly-crash\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Airline safety<\/a>, in particular, has come to the fore following the deadly collision at Reagan National Airport.<\/p>\n<p>Outside of chairmanships, the Breakfast Club will have outsize sway over reconciliation, a budget process that Republicans will use to craft legislation on the border and national security.<\/p>\n<p>Between Scott, Paul, and Lee, they account for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.budget.senate.gov\/about\/committee-members\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">a quarter<\/a> of the Republicans on the Budget Committee, while Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), its chairman, is loosely affiliated with the Breakfast Club.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The three of us are on the Budget Committee, so we definitely have a role,&rdquo; said Johnson.<\/p>\n<p>Committee chairs have only so much influence over what actually passes Congress. Many bills are ushered through committee, only to be blocked from a floor vote by leadership.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I mean, the Senate is run by senators, and every senator has equal power, and chairmen get to set an agenda, but the person with the disproportionate, really is the leader,&rdquo; said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND).<\/p>\n<p>Still, the elevation of so many rabble-rousers to influential committee posts is part of a larger shift in Senate power after Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), long vilified by the group, stepped down as GOP leader in January.<\/p>\n<p>He was replaced by Sen. John Thune (R-SD), who promised regular order and more member input to win last November&rsquo;s leadership elections.<\/p>\n<p>The chairmanships were doled out based on seniority and complicated conference rules. In fact, Thune was next in line to chair the Commerce Committee, but Republicans have for years barred their leader from running a panel.<\/p>\n<p>The same rule goes for Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), who forgoed the Energy chairmanship to become majority whip.<\/p>\n<p>The retirement of former Sen. Mike Braun, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3256954\/mike-braun-executive-roots-indiana-governor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">left the Senate<\/a> to become Indiana governor, cleared the way for Scott to take over the Aging Committee. Braun was previously a member of the Breakfast Club.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The unity of Senate Republicans will be tested in the coming months as leadership navigates deadlines over government funding and the debt ceiling. But Thune has so far managed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3239728\/rick-scott-post-mcconnell-moment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">keep his right flank satisfied<\/a>, earning the praise of Scott and other Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a hard job. I think he&rsquo;s doing what he ran on,&rdquo; Scott, who challenged Thune for leader, previously <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3300511\/thune-keeps-conservative-critics-at-bay-as-he-forges-path-on-trump-agenda\/\">told<\/a> the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;I think he&rsquo;s just trying to bring people together. I&rsquo;ve had lots of conversations with him.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1983985\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1983985\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senate conservatives gain power with new committee chairmanships<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2400895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ted-cruz-rick-scott-ron-johnson-1024x591.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[42088,50118,3740],"class_list":["post-2400894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-breakfast-club","tag-gavel-power","tag-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ted-cruz-rick-scott-ron-johnson-1024x591.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2400894","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2400894"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2400894\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2400898,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2400894\/revisions\/2400898"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2400895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2400894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2400894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2400894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}