Author Topic: Bipartisan Support Building Around Three Changes To Senate Rules In New Congress  (Read 2291 times)

Straw Man

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Bipartisan Support Building Around Three Changes To Senate Rules In New Congress
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/17/changes-senate-rules-filibuster-transparency_n_798523.html

WASHINGTON -- Senate Democrats met for their second caucus meeting about reforming chamber rules Friday, beginning to converge on three changes that supporters hope will increase transparency and prevent a small minority from blocking an up-or-down vote on measures.

"This is a two-step process," Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), one of the leaders of the effort, told The Huffington Post in an interview after the caucus meeting. "The first step is that we need to recognize that under the Constitution, we can...adopt rules with 51 votes and also cut off debate on rules that we want to adopt with 51 votes. ... The second step is building the consensus with 51 senators on what they want to actually be in the rules. ... And that's the tough business we're in right now."

According to Udall, bipartisan support is beginning to build around three proposals: 1) No longer allowing senators to filibuster the motion to proceed and instead allow a set amount of time for debate, 2) ending secret holds, and 3) stopping filibustering senators from hiding behind quorum calls and forcing them to speak up if they're blocking a bill.

Republican Sen. Dan Coats (Ind.) has publicly supported the first measure, telling NPR in November, "I think what we need is the opportunity to debate and have an up-or-down vote on every issue. Filibustering the motion to proceed -- that is, we can't even go forward and talk about an issue without overcoming or without gaining a 60-vote majority for it -- I would support removing that provision."

"If...the goal is to have deliberation then blocking getting to debate makes no sense, and that's a very common sense thing," Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), another advocate of the reform effort, told The Huffington Post on Friday. "If 41 people vote to say they want to continue debate then forcing there to be that debate makes sense."

What could happen on this measure is that both sides of an issue would be allowed an equal amount of time for debate. After that, the legislation would move to a vote.

The second proposal has broad bipartisan support, with 66 senators signing a letter pledging "no secret holds on legislation or nominations."

"The third thing is to really require people, if they're going to filibuster, to speak up. Don't hide behind the quorum calls. The American people understand a filibuster to be what it was in 'Mr. Smith Goes To Washington,'" said Udall. "If you are opposed to some direction the Senate is moving in, you're entitled to speak, you come out to speak, try to rouse your constituents, try to rouse the American people."

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) told The Huffington Post's Sam Stein to expect "fireworks" on Jan. 5, 2011, the day on which the Senate can, he argued, revamp its rules by a simple majority vote.

"[Former Sen.] Robert Byrd in 1975, the last time that we changed the rules and [brought the filibuster threshold] from 67 [votes] down to 60, actually stated on the floor that a majority, 51 senators, could change the rules," said Harkin. "And that's what we intend to do and that is what we are working on right now. We are coming on the fifth to basically send a motion to the vice president...that will change the rules and there is a procedure to provide 51 votes to do that. Robert Byrd said that in 1975 and that's what we are going to try to do."

Udall stressed that no consensus has been reached yet, and he expects "a very strong discussion over the next two weeks until we reach Jan. 5." Democratic senators are also reaching out to Republicans to get more support for the changes.

Ryan Grim contributed reporting.


Soul Crusher

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Oh I agree Straw.  If someone wants to fillabuster -they should do it the ol fashioned way and make their case in public, with the facts, etc.

I'm not for secret shit like that all.  I would prefer actual fillibusters and real debate on these issues.     

Straw Man

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Oh I agree Straw.  If someone wants to fillabuster -they should do it the ol fashioned way and make their case in public, with the facts, etc.

I'm not for secret shit like that all.  I would prefer actual fillibusters and real debate on these issues.     

The Repubs have used these weird rules to literally prevent the process of running our government.......for what??

They just unanimously confirmed 4 of Obama's judicial nominations

If there was unamious support then why weren't they approved sooner.  Why do we allow a few people to literally halt the function of our government.   If there was some dissenting votes or some other obvious reason (other than playing politics with our government) then I might understand. 

Soul Crusher

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The Repubs have used these weird rules to literally prevent the process of running our government.......for what??

They just unanimously confirmed 4 of Obama's judicial nominations

If there was unamious support then why weren't they approved sooner.  Why do we allow a few people to literally halt the function of our government.   If there was some dissenting votes or some other obvious reason (other than playing politics with our government) then I might understand. 

Because behind cosed doors a lot of other crap goes on we never know about.  Landrueix  herselfhelp up that guy Lew fo OMB because she was pissed off about the gulf stuff. 

Its just how it is. 

Straw Man

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Because behind cosed doors a lot of other crap goes on we never know about.  Landrueix  herselfhelp up that guy Lew fo OMB because she was pissed off about the gulf stuff. 

Its just how it is


let's make them get out in the open and debate this stuff and stop using procedural tricks to oppose legislation. 

Shit, the spending bill that recently was killed was full of earmarks from both parties and they worked on it for months.  Everyone knew what was in the bill yet Repubs pretend it was just dropped on them and individuals who put earmarks in the bill then turned around and opposed it because (they claim) it had earmarks. 


Soul Crusher

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Maybe they knew about it - but the actual taxpaying public had no freaking clue. 

I'm glad that spending binge was killed.  Thisis ridiculous.  What part of BROKE  do these theieves not get?   

Straw Man

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Maybe they knew about it - but the actual taxpaying public had no freaking clue. 

I'm glad that spending binge was killed.  Thisis ridiculous.  What part of BROKE  do these theieves not get?   

you mean the bill that was exactly how McConnell wanted it and then wouldn't even allow to come to a vote

did you happen to watch the video?

Soul Crusher

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you mean the bill that was exactly how McConnell wanted it and then wouldn't even allow to come to a vote

did you happen to watch the video?

I could care less about Turkey Neck, the fact is that the public had no clue about this heist until the last minute which is BS. 

Screw all of these bums.  I hope the govt shuts own for good.  Its a complete waste of money and we can do better on our own.   

Straw Man

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I could care less about Turkey Neck, the fact is that the public had no clue about this heist until the last minute which is BS. 
Screw all of these bums.  I hope the govt shuts own for good.  Its a complete waste of money and we can do better on our own.   

tell me one bill that the "public" knows anyting about

have you ever read a any of these bills.

The point is the the people who are oppising it and won't even let it come for a vote know exactly what's in the bill because they helped write it and they put the earmarks in it and then turn around and pretend they know nothing about it.   

Soul Crusher

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tell me one bill that the "public" knows anyting about

have you ever read a any of these bills.

The point is the the people who are oppising it and won't even let it come for a vote know exactly what's in the bill because they helped write it and they put the earmarks in it and then turn around and pretend they know nothing about it.   

I don't agree with that!   Its wrong for them to do that and guess why this mess got killed thankfully? 

Straw Man

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I don't agree with that!   Its wrong for them to do that and guess why this mess got killed thankfully? 

this is what I'm talking about.


MCWAY

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you mean the bill that was exactly how McConnell wanted it and then wouldn't even allow to come to a vote

did you happen to watch the video?

As I said a few days ago to 333386, McConnell and McCain were planning to use the Omnibus as cover to run out the clock; then, they'd kill it with the new Senate and House, taking DADT repeal, the DREAM act, and START with it.

Reid simply put a bullet in the head of an already-dying horse. DREAM went down; but DADT repeal occured. Now, the clock is on the START treaty.

What REALLY needs to be changed is this lame-duck crap. I read an article that made a good point: The lame-duck was made, when it took weeks for people to get from DC to their homes far away, after they lost. It's time for that to go.

We voted Pelosi's team OUT; Yet, we get victimized by their stupid policies, during their last two months in office.

Straw Man

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As I said a few days ago to 333386, McConnell and McCain were planning to use the Omnibus as cover to run out the clock; then, they'd kill it with the new Senate and House, taking DADT repeal, the DREAM act, and START with it.

Reid simply put a bullet in the head of an already-dying horse. DREAM went down; but DADT repeal occured. Now, the clock is on the START treaty.

What REALLY needs to be changed is this lame-duck crap. I read an article that made a good point: The lame-duck was made, when it took weeks for people to get from DC to their homes far away, after they lost. It's time for that to go.

We voted Pelosi's team OUT; Yet, we get victimized by their stupid policies, during their last two months in office.

fine - why not be honest about it instead of lying and pretending they don't know what's in a bill that they themselves spent months writing and why lie about earmarks when they themselves put earmarks in the bill

repeal of DADT has passed the Senate and the START bill will pass next week


Hedgehog

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We need a little more Wikileaking out of both party HQ's.

More importantly, journalists needs to focus on explaining these scams to the public instead of the usual Palin bullshit and the Obama Muslim/non-US-citizen whatever pseudo stories that's littering the media space.

Fox and MSNBC are letting us down big time.

CNN is just as bad these days.

CBS 60 minutes is about the only real hardcore no bullshit news journalist show in mainstream media these days.

As empty as paradise