Senate Republicans consolidated their power over the chamber Tuesday, changing rules to give their leaders more direct control — even as one of their own warned of problems ahead.

Minutes after the new rules were approved by voice vote as the 2005 legislative session opened, Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, told Senate leaders there were “tricks” still in the rules.

“I done found ways to get around” the rules, Knotts said. “You bet there are tricks.”

Through the course of the three-hour debate over the rules, which are changed every four years, Knotts was usually the lone Republican to oppose the changes.

With Republicans holding a 26-20 majority, however, it was not enough to derail the plan championed by Rules Committee chairman Larry Martin, R-Pickens.

In fact, Knotts’ defection was often canceled by Democrats Yancey McGill of Williamsburg County and Kent Williams of Marion County, who several times voted with Republicans on various amendments aimed at softening the changes.

Senate leaders — Martin, Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, and Majority Leader Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence — said the changes are designed to modernize the Senate and allow legislation to come to a vote without insurmountable delays.

Senate rules were blamed for a legislative logjam last year, as several key bills approved by the House died, often without even a hearing in the Senate.

The changes approved include:

• Lowering to 26 from 28 the number of votes needed to end a filibuster by forcing a senator to give up the floor. The number would drop to three-fifths of those senators in the chamber, if there are fewer than 46 present.

• Limiting to six days the time one senator can hold up a bill unilaterally. After six days, the Rules Committee chairman, Martin, can ask the Senate to lift the senator’s objection. It would take a majority vote to do so.

• Ending the practice of allowing amendments to bills on the third and final vote. Now, amendments may only be considered on the second reading.

Gov. Mark Sanford, who has called on the Senate to update its rules, praised senators Tuesday.

“This is the Senate’s day,” Sanford said in a statement. “I can’t credit them enough for voting to move our state forward.”

Sanford said the changes preserve the “deliberative tradition.”

Throughout Tuesday’s debate, however, it was clear many Democrats — and Knotts — did not agree.

“You are restricting the debate to such a great degree,” said Sen. Linda Short, D-Chester. “We’re all going to live to regret seeing this happen.”

Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, said Republicans were further asserting their own will over the body, making the Senate a completely partisan body instead of one dedicated to improving the state.

“If you’re going to trample on everything, at least be man enough to say,” Ford said.

Knotts, Sen. Glenn Reese, D-Spartanburg, and Sen. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter, together sponsored nearly a dozen amendments aimed at adding “common sense” to the rules, Knotts said. Each was tabled by Republicans.

Unlike the last time rules were updated, in 2001, the new rules can be changed in the first two weeks of the 2006 session by a majority vote of the Senate.

Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658 or asheinin@thestate.com.