Senate ends practice of secret holds (vote 92-4)

[Tx4obama]

Source: The Hill

The Senate kicked off a series of stacked votes that would alter the Senate rules for the 112th Congress with a 92-4 vote to end the practice of secret holds.

“This legislation deals with a sweeping, almost unparalleled power,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said on the floor prior to the vote. “If you want to exercise that extraordinary power, you ought to do it in the sunlight.”

Secret holds allowed a senator to anonymously object to legislation or the approval of a nominee.

Although Senate leadership already agreed to stop the practice of secret holds in a gentleman’s agreement Thursday morning, the passage of Res. 28, the Wyden/Grassley/McCaskill Secret Holds Resolution, will codify the change and will apply to future sessions of Congress.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/140811-senate-ends-practice-of-secret-holds

[Tx4obama]

1. The 'no' votes were....

Jim DeMint - R-SC
John Ensign - R-NV
Mike Lee - R-UT
Rand Paul - R-KY

[Broderick]

3. must be good then

the crazy faction contingent was tiny.

[yurbud]

20. who were the no votes on ending or amending the filibuster itself?

[Tx4obama]

21. Here ya go

S.RES.8
Latest Title: A resolution amending the Standing Rules of the Senate to provide for cloture to be invoked with less than a three-fifths majority after additional debate.
List of yeas and nays:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00004

S.RES.10
Latest Title: A resolution to improve the debate and consideration of legislative matters and nominations in the Senate.
List of yeas and nays:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00005

Look at January 27th: http://democrats.senate.gov/calendar/2011-01.html

[No Elephants]

25. For non-clickers

S.RES.8 - Latest Title: A resolution amending the Standing Rules of the Senate to provide for cloture to be invoked with less than a three-fifths majority after additional debate.

Grouped By Vote Position (very surprising to me)

YEAs ---12
Begich (D-AK)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harkin (D-IA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Udall (D-NM)

NAYs ---84
Akaka (D-HI)
Alexander (R-TN)
Ayotte (R-NH)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bennet (D-CO)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Brown (R-MA)
Burr (R-NC)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coats (R-IN)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Coons (D-DE)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Franken (D-MN)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hagan (D-NC)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Johnson (D-SD)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kirk (R-IL)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Lee (R-UT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lugar (R-IN)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Paul (R-KY)
Portman (R-OH)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Toomey (R-PA)
Udall (D-CO)
Vitter (R-LA)
Warner (D-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wicker (R-MS)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 4
Feinstein (D-CA)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inouye (D-HI)
McCain (R-AZ)







S.RES.10
Latest Title: A resolution to improve the debate and consideration of legislative matters and nominations in the Senate.

Grouped By Vote Position

YEAs ---44
Akaka (D-HI)
Begich (D-AK)
Bennet (D-CO)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Conrad (D-ND)
Coons (D-DE)
Durbin (D-IL)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Hagan (D-NC)
Harkin (D-IA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Warner (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs ---51
Alexander (R-TN)
Ayotte (R-NH)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Baucus (D-MT)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Brown (R-MA)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coats (R-IN)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kirk (R-IL)
Kohl (D-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lee (R-UT)
Lugar (R-IN)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Paul (R-KY)
Portman (R-OH)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Thune (R-SD)
Toomey (R-PA)
Vitter (R-LA)
Webb (D-VA)
Wicker (R-MS)

Not Voting - 5
Feinstein (D-CA)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kerry (D-MA)
McCain (R-AZ)

[deminks]

2. a small step, but a step, nonetheless.

[Warpy]

4. Well, a tippy toe extended for progress.

But it seems like they're not going to touch the abuse of the filibuster this time.

However, forcing cockroaches like DeMint out into the light will help.

It will be interesting to see who voted against it. I'm expecting at least one progressive because it didn't end indefinite public holds.

Edit: I see the "nays" posted above. I sit corrected. Gratefully.

[Tx4obama]

5. ALSO one more bill passed.... (Updated with 3 failed bills)

PASSED
S.Res.29 (Udall (CO)), to permit the waiving of the reading of an amendment if the text and adequate notice are provided (60-vote threshold); Adopted: 81-15

http://democrats.senate.gov/calendar/2011-01.html
and yays and nays here: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00003

-------------

And THREE bills that FAILED below

S.Res.8 (Harkin), amending the Standing Rules of the Senate to provide for cloture to be invoked with less than a three-fifths majority after additional debate (67-vote threshold); Not Adopted: 12-82

S.Res.10 (Udall (NM)), as amended by Udall (NM) amendment #1, to improve the debate and consideration of legislative matters and nominations in the Senate (67-vote threshold); Not Adopted: 44-51

S.Res.21 (Merkley), as amended by Merkley amendment #2: (substitute) (67-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 46-49

http://democrats.senate.gov/calendar/2011-01.html

[bluerum]

6. So now all the rethug flotsam that dems could have nixed secretly gets nixed publicly.

I guess what I find most annoying is that the rethugs used this secret mixing to block so many nominations over the last two years. Now that they have a majority in the lower house they will be able to pass up any and every piece of nonsense for a vote.

[Tx4obama]

7. The 'secret holds' pertain only to the Senate.

The Senate voted on 'senate rules' today.

p.s. As far as legislation goes in the senate, any bill the republicans want to bring to the floor still would have to be put on the agenda by Sen Reid. So if Reid doesn't bring it up it's dead anyway.

The secret holds that the republicans were putting on Obama's admin and judicial nominations were disgraceful.

[bluerum]

29. Yes. But jibberish that is passed to the upper house must now be debated and voted on.

And there will be some astounding knuckle dragging bs passed up.

[tabatha]

8. That is very important.

Good news.

[emulatorloo]

9. EXCELLENT. rec n/t

[Tx4obama]

10. Senator Claire McCaskill's tweets

http://twitter.com/clairecmc

Woooohooooo! We did it! The Rules of the United States Senate now prohibit secret holds. The vote was 92 -4. about 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPad

and

@EricMayle Sen Ensign,Sen Lee,Sen DeMint,& Sen Paul voted no. Not sure why.Secret holds are no friend of Americans who want accountability. 43 minutes ago via Twitter for iPad

[Tx4obama]

11. Senator Bernie Sanders Statement

Statement: Senate Reforms Filibuster Rules

January 27, 2011

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement after the Senate voted today for changes in filibuster rules that have been abused by Republicans to block legislation:

“The old rules let senators use parliamentary tactics to block bills that had broad, bipartisan support. Legislation could be stopped without senators even coming to the Senate floor to debate the merits of a bill. The old rules let senators secretly hold up nominees for judgeships and other offices subject to Senate confirmation. Practices designed to protect the rights of minorities were hijacked by Republicans to delay for the sake of delay. To be blunt, the Senate too often was dysfunctional. That is why I voted in favor of several reforms that would have gone a long way toward cleaning up the mess while preserving meaningful opportunities for senators on both sides of the aisle to seriously debate an issue.

“While some proposals I supported did not pass, I am pleased that the Senate agreed to at least some modest but meaningful revisions of its rules. We have ended secret holds, reduced the number of presidential nominations that require Senate confirmation, ended the ability of a single senator to force the reading of an amendment as a delaying tactic, and reduced the use of filibusters to block even taking up a bill for debate.”


http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/index.cfm?id=4ddce0f1-9a69-442e-92fa-f938dffec9ae

[Tx4obama]

12. Here's a link to CNN's article with more info regarding the new rules

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/27/senate-bans-secret-holds-makes-other-rule-changes/

[Tx4obama]

13. Here's a link to a new AP article regarding what passed and what failed to pass

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SENATE_FILIBUSTERS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-01-27-20-07-13

[No Elephants]

24. Thanks for your many excellent additions to this thread.

[Tx4obama]

27. You're welcome :) n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. A good rule.

:blush:

I can't quite believe it.

[stevedeshazer]

15. Senate ends practice of secret holds

Source: The Hill

The Senate kicked off a series of stacked votes that would alter the Senate rules for the 112th Congress with a 92-4 vote to end the practice of secret holds.

“This legislation deals with a sweeping, almost unparalleled power,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said on the floor prior to the vote. “If you want to exercise that extraordinary power, you ought to do it in the sunlight.”

Secret holds allowed a senator to anonymously object to legislation or the approval of a nominee.

Although Senate leadership already agreed to stop the practice of secret holds in a gentleman’s agreement Thursday morning, the passage of Res. 28, the Wyden/Grassley/McCaskill Secret Holds Resolution, will codify the change and will apply to future sessions of Congress.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/140811-senate-ends-practice-of-secret-holds

[Kaleva]

16. At least there has been some progress in reforming Senate rules.

[stevedeshazer]

17. Yup, this puts a leash on Tom Coburn.

It's a positive step.

[stevedeshazer]

18. Senate ends practice of secret holds

This thread has been combined with another thread.

Click here to read this message in its new location.

[yurbud]

19. so it hasn't been passed yet?

[Tx4obama]

22. Banning 'secret holds' DID pass

S.Res.28 (Wyden), to establish as a standing order of the Senate that a Senator publicly disclose a notice of intent to objecting to any measure or matter (60-vote threshold); Adopted: 92-4
List of yeas and nays:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00002

[yurbud]

23. Good! why didn't they go further and reform the filibuster?

[No Elephants]

26. Great. Eliminating holds entirely would have been much better, but

making the holder(s)accountable at least is a good step.

"The votes were 84-12 against the proposal by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa to gradually reduce the threshold and 51-44 to reject a proposal by Sens. Tom Udall, D-N.M., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Harkin to end filibusters on motions to advance a bill to the floor, require those initiating filibusters to stay on the floor and to shorten debate time on nominations. A third resolution by Merkley that focused on requiring those filibustering to keep talking on the floor went down, 49-46. All the proposals to change Senate rules would have required two-thirds majorities for approval."

"He said he and McConnell would both avoid use of the so-called "constitutional option" where the majority could change filibuster and other Senate rules with a simple 51-vote majority in the 100-member chamber."



Sigh.

[Canuckistanian]

28. Right after Tom Coburn released HIS hold

:D

[Tx4obama]

30. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) comments after filibuster reform vote

Senator Talks Failure Of Rules Reform Package, Predicts Future Success
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/28/tom-udall-rules-reform-death_n_815630.html

[Democat]

31. Democrats will wait until they are in the minority to get rid of the filibuster!

That's how stupid our party is.