State Senate Republicans gathered Tuesday at Wampee Conference Center in Pinopolis for a two-day retreat with changes in Senate rules at the top of the agenda.

Most of the time, the way the Senate does its business has no effect on South Carolina's ordinary citizens. This time, it is different.

The Senate Republican leadership is recommending changes that could make it easier for legislation to flow through the system.

The GOP has a 26-20 majority in the Senate, and reformers have a window of the first week of the session in which to change rules by a simple majority vote.

Sen.-elect Ray Cleary, R-Murrells Inlet, said Tuesday that he has not decided how he will vote on the proposals. He said he wants to hear the arguments first.

Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach, also is attending but could not be reached.

Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, is among those backing a plan that was circulated to Republican members for the retreat.

The proposal would change the two-thirds majority required to end a filibuster to a three-fifths majority of those present and voting, Martin said.

Filibusters, or the right to speak as long as one wants to hold the floor, are used to prevent or delay passage of bills.

For example, during the most recent session, Sen. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter, filibustered to prevent passage of a law on how to implement free pouring if voters approved removing the minibottle requirement from the state constitution.

Also up for change is an unwritten rule that allows a senator to block a bill unless it is scheduled for forced debate by a two-thirds majority vote.

Martin said the GOP leadership suggests a six-day limit on bill blocking.

"Hopefully, the bills won't just languish on the calendar for two-year sessions any more," he said.

The third change on the agenda is a clearer definition of the Senate's germaneness rule, which is meant to limit items that can be added to a bill.

Sometimes called "bobtailing," the practice is under assault and will be reviewed in a special state Supreme Court hearing Dec. 2.

The lawsuit is over an economic-development bill that includes $7 million for an international trade center in Myrtle Beach.

When the Republican Caucus reaches a consensus, the leaders will start conferring with the Democratic Caucus leaders to build a stronger majority, he said.

Cleary said he has had calls from senators both for and against the changes.

"I feel like the Senate's been bogged down, and it needs to change," he said. How that is done needs to be discussed, he said.

"I think it will be a spirited debate," Cleary said.