First-term Senate Democrats angling to overhaul filibuster rules got an unexpected boost Wednesday after Republicans announced a legislative blockade during the lame-duck session.

The group of junior Members, elected in 2006 and 2008, presented a host of rules changes to their colleagues during a lengthy caucus meeting Wednesday. While no consensus was reached on any one plan, a Democratic aide noted that the latest GOP obstruction tactic “got a few folks out of the locker room.”

Democrats were riled after all 42 Senate Republicans sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday morning declaring that they would stall action on all legislation until the chamber passes an extension of Bush-era tax cuts for all income brackets and a continuing resolution to fund the government another 10 months. The junior Democrats seized on the opportunity to reiterate their case for clamping down on the use of filibusters, which are tactics that enable Senators to stall action on legislation or nominations.

A few veteran lawmakers, including Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.), have warmed to the idea of doing away with the filibuster on the motion to proceed to a bill or nomination.

Levin contends that such filibusters are being abused. For instance, he says nominations have been filibustered not because of objections over the nominee, but because the tactic eats up time that could be used to work on other legislation.