Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., offered a plan for “restoring the Senate,” a sort of contract for the 2014 elections, detailing how he would end bad practices that have become standard operating procedure for Democrats and Republicans.

“Now, let me state at the outset that it’s not my intention to point the finger of blame at anybody, though some of that’s inevitable,” McConnell said in a floor speech as prepared for delivery. “And I certainly don’t claim to be without any fault. But I am certain of one thing — that the Senate can be better.”