Moderates in both chambers are hoping to grow their influence and cut deals under the Biden admin…

Moderates in both chambers are hoping to grow their influence and cut deals under the Biden administration. 
Staring down at least two years of a narrow Democratic majority in a 50-50 Senate where Vice President Harris will be the tie-breaking vote, centrist lawmakers are eager to help break Washingtons most well-known habit: a penchant for gridlock. 
In the Senate, 16 lawmakers, many of whom were involved in last years coronavirus negotiations, have formed a bipartisan gang with an eye on looking for potential areas where they could cut a deal. 
The numbers are so tight. All of us want this place to work. Weve got a golden opportunity to make it work, we really do. And our bipartisan, bicameral group is going to be a force, and when I say a force, were going to try to find that middle, said Sen. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinBiden officials hold call with bipartisan group of senators on coronavirus relief planHarry Reid ‘not particularly optimistic’ Biden will push to eliminate filibusterDurbin: Senate should consider changes to filibusterMORE (W.Va.), the most outspoken Senate Democratic centrist. 
Sen. Shelley Moore CapitoShelley Wellons Moore CapitoThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s crisis agenda hits headwindsBipartisan Senate gang to talk with Biden aide on coronavirus reliefMcConnell about to school Trump on political power for the last timeMORE (R-W.Va.), another member of the group, said their objective was to try to get results and avoid a lot of the stalemates that weve had in the past. 
In the House, the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus added 16 new members, bringing its total to 56 members. 
With Congress now narrowly divided in both chambers, bipartisanship will be key to enacting meaningful legislation,” said Rep. Josh GottheimerJoshua (Josh) GottheimerLawmakers move to oust extremists from militaryCalls grow for 9/11-style panel to probe Capitol attackTensions running high after gun incident near House floorMORE (D-N.J.), a caucus co-chair. 
The groups could be a potent force in a closely divided Washington, particularly in the Senate where Democrats need the support of at least 10 Republicans to pass most legislation unless they get rid of the legislative filibuster. 
And they are hoping theyll have an ally in President Biden, a former long-time senator who is known for his penchant for cutting deals and who came up through the partys center lane. 
Were working through everything, weve been having good conversations with the Biden transition, Manchin said. 
Sen. Todd YoungTodd Christopher YoungThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s crisis agenda hits headwindsBipartisan Senate gang to talk with Biden aide on coronavirus reliefSenators vet Buttigieg to run Transportation DepartmentMORE (R-Ind.), another member of the Senate group, added that he had made it known that he thought there would be opportunities to identify common ground on a whole host of different issues with the Biden administration.  
So Ive been in touch as it relates to a lot of consequential policy issues, he said. 
Their first task is likely going to be similar to the last big legislative fight many got involved in: figuring out if theres a bipartisan deal to be had on another round of coronavirus relief. 
Both members of the Problem Solvers Caucus and many senators involved in the bipartisan gang, tentatively named the Common Sense Coalition, were a part of the group credited by leadership in both parties for breaking the stalemate late last year on another round of coronavirus relief. 
Thats building hope that they could be a viable path for cutting deals between the Biden administration and an increasingly partisan Congress. 
Sen. Chris CoonsChris Andrew CoonsDemocrats seek answers on impact of Russian cyberattack on Justice Department, CourtsSenators introduce bill to award Officer Goodman the Congressional Gold MedalSenate chaos threatens to slow Biden’s agendaMORE (D-Del.), a close ally of Bidens, isnt in the group, but pointed to last years work on coronavirus legislation as reflecting the potential for moderates to be a force in deal-making.
After eight months in which there was no movement in the Senate on a COVID relief package a bipartisan group actually pulled together the deal that was actually able to overcome Majority Leader McConnells obstruction, Coons said. I do think this is a moment where constructive working relationships both within our own caucuses and across the aisle are going to be more important than ever. 
The 16 senators held a call on Sunday with National Economic Council Director Brian DeeseBrian DeeseBiden officials hold call with bipartisan group of senators on coronavirus relief planBiden expands on Obama ethics pledgeThe Memo: Biden gambles that he can do it allMORE to try to get more specifics on Bidens $1.9 trillion coronavirus proposal and find out how the money from previous packages is being distributed. 
The GOP senators in the group are Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsBiden officials hold call with bipartisan group of senators on coronavirus relief planThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s crisis agenda hits headwindsGOP senators say only a few Republicans will vote to convict TrumpMORE (Maine), Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiSenators spar over validity of Trump impeachment trialTrump impeachment trial to begin week of Feb. 8Murkowski didn’t vote for Trump, won’t join DemocratsMORE (Alaska), Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyBiden officials hold call with bipartisan group of senators on coronavirus relief planFive examples of media’s sycophancy for Biden on inauguration weekRomney: Total figure for Biden coronavirus stimulus is ‘pretty shocking’MORE (Utah), Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s crisis agenda hits headwindsBipartisan Senate gang to talk with Biden aide on coronavirus reliefThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden takes office, calls for end to ‘uncivil war’ MORE (Ohio), Bill CassidyBill CassidyThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s crisis agenda hits headwindsBipartisan Senate gang to talk with Biden aide on coronavirus reliefMcConnell about to school Trump on political power for the last timeMORE (La.), Capito, Jerry MoranGerald (Jerry) MoranThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s crisis agenda hits headwindsOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden’s Interior Department temporarily blocks new drilling on public lands | Group of GOP senators seeks to block Biden moves on Paris, Keystone | Judge grants preliminary approval for 0M Flint water crisis settlementBipartisan Senate gang to talk with Biden aide on coronavirus reliefMORE (Kan.) and Young. 
The Democrats are Sens. Manchin, Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerThe next pandemic may be cyber How Biden administration can stop itBipartisan Senate gang to talk with Biden aide on coronavirus reliefSocial media posts, cellphone data aid law enforcement investigations into riotsMORE (Va.), Maggie HassanMargaret (Maggie) HassanBipartisan Senate gang to talk with Biden aide on coronavirus reliefBipartisan group of senators: The election is overSeven Senate races to watch in 2022MORE (N.H.), Jeanne ShaheenCynthia (Jeanne) Jeanne ShaheenBipartisan Senate gang to talk with Biden aide on coronavirus reliefBipartisan group of senators: The election is overSeven Senate races to watch in 2022MORE (N.H.), Mark KellyMark KellyArizona Gov. Ducey says he won’t run against Mark Kelly for SenateBipartisan Senate gang to talk with Biden aide on coronavirus reliefK Street navigates virtual inauguration weekMORE (Ariz.), John HickenlooperJohn HickenlooperBipartisan Senate gang to talk with Biden aide on coronavirus reliefK Street navigates virtual inauguration weekSenate swears-in six new lawmakers as 117th Congress convenesMORE (Colo.), Dick DurbinDick DurbinBiden officials hold call with bipartisan group of senators on coronavirus relief planHarry Reid ‘not particularly optimistic’ Biden will push to eliminate filibusterDurbin: Senate should consider changes to filibusterMORE (Ill.) and Independent Sen. Angus KingAngus KingBiden officials hold call with bipartisan group of senators on coronavirus relief planThe next pandemic may be cyber How Biden administration can stop itBipartisan Senate gang to talk with Biden aide on coronavirus reliefMORE (Maine), who caucuses with Democrats. 
Some GOP senators in the group have expressed disappointment with Bidens proposal and a lack of outreach to them, another sign that Biden likely has his work cut out for him to win over Republicans in the group. 
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she was happy to listen but questioned the size of what Biden is proposing. 
It’s hard for me to see, when we just passed $900 billion worth of assistance, why we would have a package that big. Now maybe a couple of months from now, the needs will be evident, and we will need to do something significant, she added. 
My focus is to see wheres the need, and lets make sure that the numbers are real based upon need, as opposed to simply looking for more stimulus, said Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah). 
Democrats are also prepping reconciliation text a budget tool that would allow them to pass a bill with only simple majorities in both chambers. 
Moderates face an increasingly polarized political reality both on Capitol Hill and across the country, which remains on edge after the January 6 attack at the Capitol. 
Democrats are under fierce pressure, including from some of their own colleagues, to nix the 60-vote legislative filibuster, which would allow them to pass legislation with only a simple majority. 
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellBiden attends first church service as president in DC, stops at local bagel shopHarry Reid ‘not particularly optimistic’ Biden will push to eliminate filibusterSenators spar over validity of Trump impeachment trialMORE (R-Ky.) warned during a recent Senate floor speech that while Republicans were willing to work with Biden that they were also prepared to block ideas that they disagree with. 
Well use the power the American people have given us to push for what is right, McConnell said. 
Durbin cautioned that it was too soon to tell how McConnell would operate under a Biden administration, but that he expected the bipartisan group to stick together beyond the current coronavirus talks as they try to influence strategy. 
I dont think its a bad ambition because were going to have bipartisanship to have success, Durbin said, adding that he had already reached out a half dozen GOP senators about trying to find a deal on immigration. 
Theyve been open to the conversation, he said. We havent agreed on anything but theyve been open to it and thats what its gonna take. We just have to try if we can get 60 people together on both sides.