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Lee's Summit, MO —
In December I informed you that I had signed a national petition directed at the incoming Congress to change the required 60-vote Senate filibuster rule.
Last year Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., acknowledged that there was a movement by Democrats to reform the Senate filibuster. He warned his colleagues to oppose such reform saying, “It may be the most important thing you ever do.”
Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV.) countered “We can’t continue this way.”
That petition fell on deaf ears, for the new Senate approved a deal by Reid and McConnell that keeps the yoke – the long-standing mandatory 60 votes for stopping a filibuster – still around the neck of the Senate.
There were two resolutions, which passed 78 to 16 and 86 to 9 respectively. Basically, it provides more access to speed up the filibuster process. It will prevent Republicans from killing bills before the body can debate them but still allows the Republicans to block legislation by calling for a supermajority. However, it does reduce the number of times opponents of a bill can use filibuster.
Amendments include speeding up the process of voting to confirm the president’s judicial nominations.
Many Democratic Senators joined Republicans in praising the deal reported on by Talking Points Memo: Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters that there’s overwhelming support for the agreement among Democrats, despite the protestations of those who wanted more sweeping reforms. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said that she’s satisfied with the package.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said it’s a reasonable compromise.
“I think it’s good,” she said. “I think it’s progress.”
Even President Obama was pleased with the passage, especially the amendment to speed up his judicial nominations.
McConnell sent an email to his colleagues boasting that, “We beat the liberals.”
Many Democrats were optimistic that Reid would invoke the “nuclear options” by changing the 60-vote rule to 51 votes. He would need 67 senators to approve that move. It was never considered.
“I’m not personally, at this stage, ready to get rid of the 60-vote threshold,” Reid told Washington Post columnist Ezra Klein. “The only way we’ll get rid of the filibuster is if it continues to be abused,”
If a record 348 filibusters in the past six years isn’t abuse, then what is?
Bring on the next petition.
I give you President John Adams’ toast: Independence forever.
Jerry Plantz lives in Lee’s Summit. His website is at www.Jerryplantz.com. Reach him at jerryplantz@msn.com.
In December I informed you that I had signed a national petition directed at the incoming Congress to change the required 60-vote Senate filibuster rule.
Last year Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., acknowledged that there was a movement by Democrats to reform the Senate filibuster. He warned his colleagues to oppose such reform saying, “It may be the most important thing you ever do.”
Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV.) countered “We can’t continue this way.”
That petition fell on deaf ears, for the new Senate approved a deal by Reid and McConnell that keeps the yoke – the long-standing mandatory 60 votes for stopping a filibuster – still around the neck of the Senate.
There were two resolutions, which passed 78 to 16 and 86 to 9 respectively. Basically, it provides more access to speed up the filibuster process. It will prevent Republicans from killing bills before the body can debate them but still allows the Republicans to block legislation by calling for a supermajority. However, it does reduce the number of times opponents of a bill can use filibuster.
Amendments include speeding up the process of voting to confirm the president’s judicial nominations.
Many Democratic Senators joined Republicans in praising the deal reported on by Talking Points Memo: Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters that there’s overwhelming support for the agreement among Democrats, despite the protestations of those who wanted more sweeping reforms. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said that she’s satisfied with the package.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said it’s a reasonable compromise.
“I think it’s good,” she said. “I think it’s progress.”
Even President Obama was pleased with the passage, especially the amendment to speed up his judicial nominations.
McConnell sent an email to his colleagues boasting that, “We beat the liberals.”
Many Democrats were optimistic that Reid would invoke the “nuclear options” by changing the 60-vote rule to 51 votes. He would need 67 senators to approve that move. It was never considered.
“I’m not personally, at this stage, ready to get rid of the 60-vote threshold,” Reid told Washington Post columnist Ezra Klein. “The only way we’ll get rid of the filibuster is if it continues to be abused,”
If a record 348 filibusters in the past six years isn’t abuse, then what is?
Bring on the next petition.
I give you President John Adams’ toast: Independence forever.
Jerry Plantz lives in Lee’s Summit. His website is at www.Jerryplantz.com. Reach him at jerryplantz@msn.com.
