"Scaled-down filibuster reform looks like a done deal"

[Clio the Leo]

Scaled-down filibuster reform looks like a done deal
By Greg Sargent

A Senate aide emails an outline of the final deal on a scaled-down filibuster reform packaged reached between Dem and GOP leaders, and it will be voted on today:

Under the terms of the agreement the senate will hold votes on:

* Eliminating secret holds, including the right of senators to pass their secret holds to another anonymous senator to keep a rolling secret hold.

* Eliminating senators rights to force the reading of an amendment that has already been submitted for 72 hours and is publicly available.

* Legislation to exempt about 1/3 of all nominations from the Senate confirmation process, reducing the number of executive nominations subject to Senate delays, which will be scheduled at a future date under the terms of an agreement reached by Sens. Mitch McConnell and Lamar Alexander, Homeland Security and Government Affairs Chairman Joe Lieberman and HSGA ranking member Sen. Susan Collins, along with Sens. Reid and Chuck Schumer.

Key things missing from this package: The "talking filibuster," which would force Senators to actually filibuster, and the elimination of the filibuster on the so-called "motion to proceed." As noted here recently, Dem and GOP leaders reached a deal by which they would not pass the broader package favored by reformers via the "Constitutional option," i.e., by simple majority. Instead, they agreed to pass the scaled-down package with 67 votes and broad bipartisan support. Dems were uncomfortable with the "Constitutional option" and it seemed unlikely that even 51 Dem Senators would vote for it.

more...
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2011/01/scaled_down_filibuster_reform.html

[treestar]

1. I wish they'd have gone with Harkins' proposal!

But progress is progress. And the Democrats won't abuse it, though I would like to see them do it in any future republican Senate.

[emulatorloo]

2. Too bad about the 'talking filibuster" I thought I read ending of secret holds passed today

which is exciting.

[karynnj]

3. The first two that Sargent listed passed:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00003 (holds)
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00003 (reading the bill)
(They easily got the 60 that were needed.)

Harkin got just 12 votes ( http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00004 ) - and the talking filibuster -Udall ( http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00005 )got 44. Merkley's, which also had a talking filibuster had http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00006 had 46,

All 3 that failed needed 67.

I don't know why different numbers were needed - I suspect it had to do with the agreement of the leaders - but it didn't matter to any passing or failing.

[tritsofme]

4. Good. Now is not a good time to grease the passage GOP House passed legislation

through the Senate.

To have a simple majority on any given bill in this Congress, the Republicans would only need to pick off four Democrats to send GOP House passed bills to the president.

Maintaining a 60 vote threshold for GOP House passed bills will be important in this Congress, and likely even more so in the next where a GOP Senate is a very strong possibility.