Senate's Returning Democrats Unanimously Favor Filibuster Reform

[Chris_]

Senate's Returning Democrats Unanimously Favor Filibuster Reform

All Democratic senators returning next year have signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., urging him to consider action to change long-sacrosanct filibuster rules.

The letter, delivered this week, expresses general frustration with what Democrats consider unprecedented obstruction and asks Reid to take steps to end those abuses. While it does not urge a specific solution, 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, and they would have to remain on the floor to sustain it. That is a change from current rules, which require the majority leader to file a cloture motion to overcome an anonymous objection to a motion to proceed, and then wait 30 hours for a vote on it.

National Journal

More attempts by Democrats to prevent reasonable objections to questionable or dangerous legislation from being heard in the Senate.

[franksolich]

And as usual, a rules change is going to come back to bite them.

Wait until 2013, when the Dems are going to suddenly start loving the filibuster.

A blade cuts both ways.

[Crazy Horse]

Yet back when they were in the minority (dumbocrats) it was used constantly by them.

Why not call this rule change what it used to be called............."THE NUCLEAR OPTION".  I sure seem to remember how they all called that unconstitutional and such, the rules of the Senate were in place for a reason...etc.

Will they be called out for their hypocrisy...............

[Ballygrl]

The Constituents of Senate Democrats vulnerable in 2012 need to get on the phone and call their offices and tell them how they feel.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Yeah, they all thinks it's a wonderful idea, and always will...right up to the day they only have 49 Dem Senators, or 50 and a GOP VP.  What a bunch of transparently self-interested bullshit.