Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Has ordered Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) to work with Democratic lawmakers on a “bipartisan solution” to armed violence.
Leading the news: McConnell told CNN that he “encouraged” Cornyn to work with Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) “And others who are interested in trying to get a result that is directly related to the problem. “
Between the lines: Senate Democrats had already expressed interest in having Cornyn as a point of contact for talks, as the shooting took place in his state, reports Alayna Treene of Axios.
- Cornyn has shown compassion and a willingness to work with Democrats on similar issues before.
Overview: Senate lawmakers on both sides held small group discussions to assess bipartisan support for passing bills after a shooting at a Texas elementary school in which a gunman killed 19 children and two adults.
Be smart: Any kind of gun-related legislation would need 60 votes to pass in the Senate.
The latest: Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a bill that would have created new federal offices focused on domestic terrorism.