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The Last Time The Parliamentarian Made Life Hard In An Evenly Split Senate, He Got Canned

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: Police tape still hangs from the handle of the door to the Senate Parliamentarian's office at the U.S. Capitol following last week's violent attack by a pro-Trump mob January 12, 2021 in ... WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: Police tape still hangs from the handle of the door to the Senate Parliamentarian's office at the U.S. Capitol following last week's violent attack by a pro-Trump mob January 12, 2021 in Washington, DC. Clean up of the building continues ahead of next week’s presidential inauguration and after a mob of supporters of President Donald Trump attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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February 26, 2021 5:43 p.m.

The Senate is split evenly, and the effective majority party is using reconciliation to pass legislation while circumventing the filibuster. The Senate parliamentarian blocks something that party wants to pass and infuriates its members. The parliamentarian, usually an obscure position, comes under intense scrutiny and even calls to be fired. 

Sound familiar? 

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