How many Dem Congressmen do we have? How many do we need?

[Bonn1997]

When the new Congress takes office, how many Dems will we have? I know the seats are undecided in Minn, NY, Delaware, I think Colorado. Do we still need 60 votes to override a fillibuster? Or is it 60% of the total # of Senators currently seated? Or some other #? How many Dems do you think we'll have when Obama is sworn in?

[FLAprogressive]

1. on paper 256. But as we all know you can't really count on half of them nt

[Bonn1997]

2. What about the Senate? I think we have 55 rather than 59

given the four vacancies. Needing five Republicans rather than one Republican to stop a fillibuster (if my understanding is correct) is a HUGE difference.

[FLAprogressive]

3. 55 + Sanders + LIEberman....

[Bonn1997]

4. I think the 55 includes them

because the 59 figure the media usually reports includes them

[fla nocount]

5. Six, maybe, we need 60. n/t