Mike Lee proposes Senate changes to 'ensure that the voices of the American people are heard once more' as race to replace McConnell heats up

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has laid out several demands for the next GOP leader in the Senate to decentralize power in the Republican Senate conference. On Monday, the Utah Senator wrote out his plans in order to take power away from the central leader.

According to Politico, a letter that was obtained by the outlet was sent out to different Senate colleagues on Monday night that list a set of plans in order to advocate for changes as Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), John Thune (R-SD) and Rick Scott (R-FL) throw their hat in the ring in order to take Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) spot as GOP Senate leader. The Utah senator said that the changes will "ensure that the voices of the American people are heard once more."

The letter reads, "For the first time in 18 years, our conference will choose a new Republican floor leader. This decision is about more than electing someone to fill that position—it is about setting the course for the Senate’s role in our nation’s future. Together, we have the chance to strengthen the Senate, empower individual members, and ensure that the voices of the American people are heard once more."

Many of the proposals have to do with procedures, more so than policy. One request has to do with the number of bill amendments that can be proposed, "Under current procedures, most senators are blocked from making amendments to bills that directly impact the lives of their constituents. ... One simple, additional reform could involve requiring three-fourths of our conference to agree before the [amendment] tree can be filled."

The "amendment tree" refers to a process where amendments are proposed on bills in order to fill the number of slots for changes on any given bill according to precedent. However, oftentimes some senators will propose amendments with little impact on to a bill in order to fill these spots, preventing others from proposing more substantive amendments.

Lee also proposed that there be four weeks to debate spending packages "We know when the funding deadlines are; we set them. We should have no problem setting a schedule for consideration four weeks in advance of that deadline. Providing this time will allow us to craft better laws and give the American people a real opportunity to engage in the legislative process," he wrote.

The Utah senator also proposed that the Republican conference propose policy goals at the beginning of the year. "It would also empower individual Republican senators to work with their Republican colleagues to put policy proposals in legislative text knowing that the conference supports the general goal," Lee added in the letter. In addition to this, Lee wrote that the GOP whip in the Senate should "whip for or against a bill or nominee only with the support of the majority of the conference" in order to avoid "being in the position of having to whip for legislation advancing Democrat priorities."

Lee ended the letter, saying, "I am confident that with the right leadership and a commitment to these reforms, we can create a stronger, more accountable Senate that truly serves the people."

He also argued for a "floor schedule for considering appropriations legislation," adding that the GOP leader would publish "a calendar of days in session at the beginning of each year. This would empower the floor leader to set the tone and pace of spending negotiations."