Dem backers of changing filibuster rules undaunted by GOP House

[cal04]

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/129025-dem-backers-of-changing-filibuster-rules-undaunted-by-gop-house

Three Democratic proponents of changing the Senate’s filibuster rules are vowing to press their case in the 112th Congress despite the GOP takeover of the House, with one senator pledging to force the issue on the very first day.

Sens. Tom Harkin (Iowa), Mark Udall (Colo.) and Tom Udall (N.M.) all told The Hill this week they are not backing down from their effort. The Senate’s rules — which are based on tradition, not the Constitution— have frustrated Democrats for the past several years as GOP leaders have required a 60-vote majority even for procedural motions.

Sen. Tom Udall said he will force a motion on the first day of the next Congress to have Vice President Joe Biden adopt new rules for the two-year session. Then, Udall said, he will seek consensus among senators from both parties to lower the 60-vote threshold for procedural motions. Only a simple majority of 51 votes would be necessary for such a move, and Udall said he expects support from some Republicans.

“The areas that look most fruitful for rules reform is the motion to proceed and shifting the burden to require those in opposition to a bill to come forward and present their case on the floor,” Tom Udall told The Hill. “Those are the two areas that seem to resonate with the senators I’ve talked to.”

[pinto]

1. This will be interresting. And, procedurally iirc, new rules are simple majority driven at the start

of a session.

:thumbsup:

[BlueCaliDem]

2. FINALLY! With Randy Paul joining the Senate this is NECESSARY

and I hope, truly hope, Majority Leader Harry Reid will support this.

Democrats relied on the Corporate Media to expose the crazy filibustering the Republicans have been doing since the Democrats won the majority in Congress. As expected, Corporate Media was aaaall hush-hush about it, shifting the blame and focus on Democrats instead, and that's why our lazy American electorate perceive now.

Leaving the filibuster in tact, and as is, with Republicans is tantamount to letting children play with a lighter without a safety lock. They'll burn the house down first chance they get.

[napi21]

3. Bernie Sanders was talking about thhis on T. Hartmann's show

yesterday. He said to reduce the requiremet down to 51 would be a mistake. He talked about the Dems having 53 in the Senate now but several of them are waverg to say the least. He also reminded the caller that in 2 years it's very possible that the majority could be Pubs. and it would be tragic to have them able to pass ANYTHINGA they wanted with only 51. He agreed that 60 is maybe too many and that something in the middle maybe would be better.

[ArcticFox]

4. That's exactly right

And, I expect, the Democrats will be only too happy to hand over more power to Republicans.