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+--- Thread: Senate Reaches Deal to Limit Blocking Tactics (/showthread.php?tid=2322)
Senate Reaches Deal to Limit Blocking Tactics - jaxx - 01-27-2011 05:38 PM
The Senate leadership agreed on Thursday to temper some of the procedural tactics that have tied up the chamber for the past two years, and to institute other changes intended to ease gridlock.
The agreement averted a politically charged showdown that was looming over the rules of the Senate. But to do so, it left untouched one of the most contentious blocking tactics, the filibuster, which under the current rules essentially empowers any senator of either party to force the leadership to line up 60 “yes” votes, rather than a simple majority of 51, to advance bills or nominations.
<..> “Change doesn’t come often or easily to the Senate,” Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York and chairman of the Rules Committee, said. “But we are here today because many members have worked hard on reform. And both parties have reached across the aisle to find areas of agreement. I hope our efforts will make a difference starting today.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/deal-reached-in-senate-to-limit-blocking-tactics/?nl=us&emc=politicsemailema3
I remember reading awhile back that neither party would do much about the filibuster, always knowing they will be the minority off and on. We'll see if the 'gentlemen's agreement' has any teeth.
RE: Senate Reaches Deal to Limit Blocking Tactics - Treestar - 01-27-2011 07:25 PM
Yes we have to deal with the fact that if the Republicans can't obstruct, neither can we. I can understand their hesitance. Though the Rs have abused it so much - it wasn't mean to be automatic.
I liked Harkins' plan for a graduated change in the numbers over time. Maybe that will get through someday.
RE: Senate Reaches Deal to Limit Blocking Tactics - mzmolly - 01-27-2011 10:15 PM
Good to see some progress on this.
RE: Senate Reaches Deal to Limit Blocking Tactics - sandnsea - 01-28-2011 01:09 AM
I think a lot of folks forget that the reason we have ANWR is the 60 vote filibuster. We need a solution to gridlock, but I'm not a fan of a simple majority in the Senate. The beauty of our Constitution is that it protects the minority from the tyranny of the majority and that should hold true in Congress too.