Filibuster Reform Effort Falls Short In Senate

[Qutzupalotl]

Source: Talking Points Memo

An effort to change the Senate's filibuster rules on a majority-vote basis ended Tuesday evening under growing pressure from Democratic and Republican party leaders.

In its place, senators from both parties will soon consider a bipartisan framework, negotiated by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), which include a handful of more modest reforms.
....
Sens. Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and several allies had hoped to invoke the "Constitutional Option" -- a process that would have allowed them to change the rules (to whatever degree) at the beginning of this session of Congress. Udall in particular wanted to re-establish the precedent for its own sake -- to put the Senate on notice that there are consequences to abusing the rules.

But when support for that option diminished, and opposition intensified, the reformers gave way to their leaders. Though it's unlikely that any rules changes would have occurred without Udall's efforts, any changes to the rules will be invoked through the standard process.

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/filibuster-reform-effort-falls-short.php

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Dammit.

[rpannier]

1. will soon consider a bipartisan framework

Translation: Yhe Republicans will get what they want and we're screwed

[No Elephants]

2. Very disappointing.

[xxqqqzme]

3. The senate is officially a bad joke.

A sincere effort to fix that which is broken fails. A repeat of 2010 legislative inaction looms.

[pscot]

4. What a bunch of losers.

[Old and In the Way]

5. For a former pugilist, harry's not much of a fighter.

When the Republicans take back the Senate, they'll be under no such qualms of riling up Democrats. They'll push everyone of these initiatives and then some. I really hope Obama didn't push this with the Senate leadership.

Oh well, gridlock continues.

[Mr. Sparkle]

6. I hate to say it, but thats the Democrats in the Senate in a nutshell.

Even with a majority, they are unable to muster the votes, to ride one of the most abused procedures in the senate , which spoilt the last term of the democratic senate and with it, brought great harm to the democratic party.

[rpannier]

9. And people wonder why we lost in 2010

When people think you can govern with a huge majority why would they let you govern at all

[neverforget]

7. well, at least the Democrats get to give the Republicans a taste of their

own medicine when the roles are reversed....

[rpannier]

10. The Nelson's, Landrieux and Pryor will be too busy trying to prove their independence and

bipartisanship by giving the republikkans everything they want.

[neverforget]

12. i was going to add but we're talking about Democrats who seem to lack

a spine when it comes to fights

[joshcryer]

8. That's fucked up beyond comprehension. What a fail of epic proportions.

[Qutzupalotl]

11. I suppose it was inevitable, this close to the Kumbaya moment at the SOTU.

Some reform is better than none at all (I keep telling myself). And there's some consolation in knowing that minority power would be there should we lose the Senate — which I doubt we will anytime soon.