Democrats May Force Senator Bunning To Engage In An Actual Senate Floor Filibuster!

[Better Believe It]

Democrats May Force All-Night Session
By John Stanton
March 2, 2010

Democrats are hoping to turn the procedural tables on Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) and use Senate rules to break his blockade against an extension of unemployment insurance, including possibly forcing a round-the-clock session.

Although no final decisions have been made, Democrats confirmed it is increasingly likely that Democrats will force Bunning into an actual filibuster of unemployment insurance extension Tuesday night by repeatedly offering up unanimous consent agreements to bring the bill to a vote.

Although Members often threaten actual filibusters, they rarely materialize. Instead, lawmakers tend to rely on “Cadillac filibusters,” essentially stalling procedures that can be used to block legislation without having to actually stay put on the Senate floor.

Democrats on Tuesday signaled they have the resolve to remain in session throughout the night to force Bunning to abandon his cause. The American people “want an end to these games. And I hope that today we’ll see the end. If we don’t, we’re going to have to have a long, long night ahead of us to make the point that it’s wrong for one Senator to stop our people, our American people, from getting the help they deserve,” Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said Tuesday.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/43730-1.html

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Dems likely to force Bunning to stay on floor to filibuster
by Jed Lewiso
DailyKos.com
March 2, 2010

If Jim Bunning wants to continue his filibuster against the extension of emergency unemployment benefits, Senate Democrats increasingly likely to force him to stay on the floor -- all night, if necessary -- to carry it out.

According to Roll Call, Republicans are demanding Democrats hold three separate votes on so-called "pay-fors" in order to win Bunning's agreement on the unemployment benefits extension. Each "pay-for" take money from other programs to pay for the extension. Last week, Democrats agreed to one such vote, but today Majority Leader Reid rejected the Republican ransom, saying Democrats would honor their original deal, but that it was unacceptable to shift the goal posts just to score political points on the backs of unemployed American workers.

A side note: a few hours earlier today, Fox claimed that Bunning's filibuster had been resolved. Maybe that report was Fair & Balanced, but it wasn't right. But now that Democrats are making it clear that Bunning is going to have to actually stay on the floor round-the-clock to conduct his filibuster, hopefully we'll see some actual progress.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/2/842314/-Dems-likely-to-force-Bunning-to-stay-on-floor-to-filibuster

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This should be done everytime the Republicans engage in fake, phantom filibusters to block legislation. I've been saying this for months now.

[Maeve]

1. Do it/ I've been saying that for a long time--wanna filibuster? Get filing, buster! eom

[Better Believe It]

2. Call their bluff, if it is one, and if it isn't make them filibuster!

[Vinca]

3. I'll believe it when I see it.

[Better Believe It]

6. Let's see if Bunning backs down with the mere threat of forcing him to filibuster!

And if he won't back down he'll just have to stay up all night, into the morning, on to Wednesday afternoon or however long it takes for him to run out of gas.

[Nite Owl]

14. Me too!

I hope that they carry though on this but they are likely to get weak kneed if they GOP looks at them the wrong way.

[Captain Hilts]

4. YES!!!!

[City Lights]

5. It's about time!

Make him actually do it, Dems!

[Demoiselle]

7. Finally! Long overdue.

[XOKCowboy]

8. When I see Barbara Boxer say it I sort of believe it actually might happen...

The American people "want an end to these games. And I hope that today we’ll see the end. If we don’t, we’re going to have to have a long, long night ahead of us to make the point that it’s wrong for one Senator to stop our people, our American people, from getting the help they deserve," Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said Tuesday.

[whathehell]

10. Agreed.

:headbang:

[jemelanson]

9. Call him on his threat, make him put up or shut up.

Lets see how long he can stand on the floor of the senate and hold his little temper tantrum.

[AlinPA]

11. This sounds like the usual "Democrats are hoping" , "increasingly likely", "may force",

"signaled they have the resolve" language that will end up with Harry Reid quietly and timidly muttering that he "is a little disappointed in his friends on the other side of the aisle".

[Gargoyle22]

12. ..but they won't. Instead they'll make a deal with a lunatic.

[inna]

13. I'd love that. Make the evil bastard filibuster all night.

[Better Believe It]

15. Reid's Office: Bunning Holding All Nominees -- Enough! Change the Senate rules now to end this!

- By using the Constitutional Option, it only takes 50 votes with the support of Vice-President Biden to end this disruption and obstruction of the Senate. Democrats can either use the power given to them by voters and the Constitution of the United States or they can capitulate and surrender to the minority in Congress. Anymore weakness and paralysis by Democrats will guarantee Republican control of Congress and the White House in 2012. BBI -

Reid's Office: Bunning Holding All Nominees
By Rachel Slajda
March 2, 2010

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), who has become a one-man filibuster of a bill to extend unemployment benefits, apparently placed a hold on all presidential nominees last week.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office confirms to TPMDC that Bunning has placed the holds.

"It turns out that not only is he been blocking the unemployment insurance bill, he has also been blocking the confirmation of nominees since last week as well," said Reid spokesman Jim Manley

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/reids-office-bunning-holding-all-nominees.php?ref=fpa

[OffWithTheirHeads]

16. I called Boxer yesterday and told her that if she didn't stop this nonsense

That she needs to be replaced as obviously she is not up to the task. As a constituent, and a community organizer I was going to vote third party and lobby everyone I know and work with to do the same. I told her that I know this will put a Rebublic in her office but at least with that result I won't spend any more time hoping that we might actually get something done for we the people and being constantly disappointed. I'm pretty sure my phone call made the difference.:rofl:

[inna]

18. Boxer is one of the most progressive congress critters on our side. just saying.

[Better Believe It]

17. Deal with GOP senator ends blockade: Sen. Feingold, Lincoln & Nelson voted for Bunning amendment!

Deal with GOP senator ends one-man blockade
Budget stopgap measure passes after Bunning drops objection
NBC News and news services
March 2, 2010

updated 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - A GOP senator who had blocked passage of a stopgap budget measure on Tuesday accepted a deal to allow the 30-day package of benefits to pass.

Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., agreed to a deal Tuesday night to end the standoff, which caused federal furloughs and threatened the unemployment benefits of hundreds of thousands of people. The Kentucky senator had said he was concerned that the $10 billion measure's cost was not offset.

Under the agreement, Bunning was permitted to request a vote on an amendment that would have paid for the cost of the package. A procedural motion to take up the amendment failed by a vote of 43-53.

The Senate passed the temporary extension of benefits by a vote of 78-19.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35675122/ns/politics-capitol_hill/?gt1=43001

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Senators Lieberman, Lincoln, Nelson and Feingold (!) voted FOR the Bunning amendment and Senators Byrd and Lautenberg did not vote.

Here's the Senate roll call vote on the Bunning amendment:

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 2nd Session

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate


Vote Summary

Question: On the Motion (Motion to Waive CBA Bunning Amdt. No. 3355 )
Vote Number: 31 Vote Date: March 2, 2010, 08:31 PM
Required For Majority: 3/5 Vote Result: Motion Rejected
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 3355 to H.R. 4691 (Temporary Extension Act of 2010)
Statement of Purpose: In the nature of a substitute.
Vote Counts:
YEAs 43
NAYs 53
Not Voting 4

Grouped By Vote Position

YEAs ---43
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brown (R-MA)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
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)
Feingold (D-WI)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hatch (R-UT)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Kyl (R-AZ)
LeMieux (R-FL)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-NE)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Wicker (R-MS)

NAYs ---53
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Begich (D-AK)
Bennet (D-CO)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Burris (D-IL)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Hagan (D-NC)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kaufman (D-DE)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Specter (D-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Warner (D-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 4
Byrd (D-WV)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00031#position

[Lasher]

19. Not a single Republican voted against the Bunning ammendment.

Roll call number 31 on Motion to Waive CBA Bunning Amdt. No. 3355

There were 19 nay votes on final passage of the bill. Every one of the nay votes were Republican.

Roll call number 32 On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 4691)

[Romulox]

20. We have been assured for nigh on 2 years now that this simply ISN'T POSSIBLE!

I never believed it.