By Dan FriedmanWednesday, December 22, 2010 3:12 p.m.
All Democratic senators returning next year have signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., urging him to change long-sacrosanct filibuster rules.
The letter, delivered this week, expresses what Democrats consider unprecedented obstruction and asks Reid to take steps to end those abuses.
Democrats said it demonstrates increased backing in the majority for a proposal, championed by Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and others, to weaken the minority’s ability to tie the Senate calendar into parliamentary knots.
Among the chief revisions that Democrats say will likely be offered:
A cloture vote requites 60 votes to end a filibuster. At one time it took 67 votes to end a filibuster but he Senate rules were changed to just require 60 votes.
There need to be changes to the rules to allow filibusters to be conducted by people who actually want to block legislation instead of people being able to quietly say ‘I object’ and go home. --Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.
This year, McCaskill lined up backing from more than two-thirds of senators for elimination of secret holds, which allow a senator to block action on a bill or nomination anonymously. She said that Democrats will also push plans to force senators who place holds to do it publicly.
After weeks of Democratic Caucus discussions during which newer members pushed various plans to limit filibusters, reformers are increasingly confident that they can defy predictions by Republicans and many pundits that rules changes will not happen in the near term.
A Democratic leadership aide said that Democrats expect to “do something on timing” next month, specifically by seeking to prevent 30-hour waiting periods on motions to proceed.
The fact that every returning Democrat signed the letter circulated by Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Mark Warner, D-Va., urging changes underscores growing determination on the part of the Senate’s majority to raise the bars for filibusters.
Adding to the momentum for change, say proponents, is a push by Udall to seek a simple majority vote on changing Senate rules at the start of the session . . .
The rules change could come at the start of next Congress, shortly after the Senate returns on January 5th.
Rigtardia agrees that the rules need to be changed. We can see how a filibuster could be used to protect the rights of minorities and to prevent the tyranny of the majority. but is should not be used in the day-in and day-out business of the Senate.
That's not the way a Democracy is supposed to work.
Of course, the Senate Democrats are a day late and a dollar short. Why didn't they do the rules changes after it was clear the GOP had no interest in bipartisanship in 2008?
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The letter, delivered this week, expresses what Democrats consider unprecedented obstruction and asks Reid to take steps to end those abuses.
Democrats said it demonstrates increased backing in the majority for a proposal, championed by Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and others, to weaken the minority’s ability to tie the Senate calendar into parliamentary knots.
Among the chief revisions that Democrats say will likely be offered:
- Senators could not initiate a filibuster of a bill before it reaches the floor unless they first muster 40 votes for it.
- Senators would have to remain on the floor to sustain it.
A cloture vote requites 60 votes to end a filibuster. At one time it took 67 votes to end a filibuster but he Senate rules were changed to just require 60 votes.
There need to be changes to the rules to allow filibusters to be conducted by people who actually want to block legislation instead of people being able to quietly say ‘I object’ and go home. --Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.
This year, McCaskill lined up backing from more than two-thirds of senators for elimination of secret holds, which allow a senator to block action on a bill or nomination anonymously. She said that Democrats will also push plans to force senators who place holds to do it publicly.
After weeks of Democratic Caucus discussions during which newer members pushed various plans to limit filibusters, reformers are increasingly confident that they can defy predictions by Republicans and many pundits that rules changes will not happen in the near term.
A Democratic leadership aide said that Democrats expect to “do something on timing” next month, specifically by seeking to prevent 30-hour waiting periods on motions to proceed.
The fact that every returning Democrat signed the letter circulated by Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Mark Warner, D-Va., urging changes underscores growing determination on the part of the Senate’s majority to raise the bars for filibusters.
Adding to the momentum for change, say proponents, is a push by Udall to seek a simple majority vote on changing Senate rules at the start of the session . . .
The rules change could come at the start of next Congress, shortly after the Senate returns on January 5th.
Rigtardia agrees that the rules need to be changed. We can see how a filibuster could be used to protect the rights of minorities and to prevent the tyranny of the majority. but is should not be used in the day-in and day-out business of the Senate.
That's not the way a Democracy is supposed to work.
Of course, the Senate Democrats are a day late and a dollar short. Why didn't they do the rules changes after it was clear the GOP had no interest in bipartisanship in 2008?
Subscribe to the Rightardia feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/UFPYA
Netcraft rank: 6706 http://toolbar.netcraft.com/site_report?url=http://rightardia.blogspot.com
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