Feinstein says Senate should look at reforming the filibuster

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico


Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for nearly three decades and previously backed the filibuster, told POLITICO earlier in the week that she hadn’t made a call on filibuster reform.

By BEN LEONARD

03/20/2021 10:24 AM EDT

After President Joe Biden recently suggested he’d favor a return to a "talking filibuster," Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Friday the Senate should weigh changing filibuster rules.

The California Democrat said that, ideally, the Senate would come together in a bipartisan manner to pass legislation on gun background checks and voting rights, among other things.

“But if that proves impossible and Republicans continue to abuse the filibuster by requiring cloture votes, I’m open to changing the way the Senate filibuster rules are used,” Feinstein said in a statement Friday, saying a talking filibuster should be considered, pointing to Biden’s support for it. “I don’t want to turn away from Senate traditions, but I also don’t believe one party should be able to prevent votes on important bills by abusing the filibuster.”

Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for nearly three decades and previously backed the filibuster, had told POLITICO earlier in the week that she hadn’t made a call on filibuster reform. But she said she was “hesitant” about changing the filibuster because of what could happen when Republicans take power in the Senate. In an interview earlier this week on ABC, Biden said he'd be open to a return to the talking filibuster, which forced lawmakers to hold the floor to stymie a bill.

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https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/20/dianne-feinstein-senate-filibuster-477305

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/20/dianne-feinstein-senate-filibuster-477305

[pecosbob]

1. I don't know about y'all, but I'm tired of this game of musical chairs and moving goalposts

[Fullduplexxx]

2. The problem with reforming the filibuster is you cant count on dems to vote

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Freedom means the minority deserves to be heard, but rarely block.

So yes it must be reformed so the minority cannot drown the government in their bathtub.

Which is what Mitch has done for 10 years.

[Lonestarblue]

4. This Senate tradition is based on Jim Crow.

None of us know how the lack of the filibuster would change future laws, especially when Democrats are in the minority, but right now it allows the minority to obstruct anything and everything no matter how beneficial it may be for the country. For now, I think Biden and the Senate are taking the right approach by saying they’re open to changes without getting rid of the filibuster entirely. If they need to get rid of it eventually, they can clearly make the case that Republican obstruction and refusal to help the American people forced them to do it.

[PortTack]

5. Her opinion has at least shifted, which is good

[ancianita]

6. Nuke the filibuster, then reinstate it if Repubs' regain of majority looks imminent. Which it

can't possibly be for the next two years. Bipartisan public polls can influence whether some Repubs join Dems on voting for future bills, if they want to keep their jobs.

[Calista241]

9. That's a little hard to do in a believable way.

If Repubs win a future majority, they can vote on whatever rules they want.

At the beginning of each term, the first Senate vote is on the rules that will govern the Senate. For a long time that's been a formality as the rules haven't substantially changed. The Repub Senate could change the rules at any time they choose to with a simple majority vote. And they won't have all the hand-wringing currently being experienced by the Dems. Especially after they've just experienced the progressive wave of legislation passed by the majority rules Senate.

For example, if the Dems vote on Nov 15 to put the filibuster back in place after losing the Senate, the Repub majority can vote to remove it on the first day of the new Senate term in January. Or at any time of their choosing.

[ancianita]

10. Nobody seems to see that they've been moving in that direction since Reid.

We might as well get what we can and let the public decide which party's better. Mail in voting won't be screwed up this time.

[Calista241]

12. Voting will be supremely fucked up regardless.

The Constitution leaves elections and voting processes to the states. It's why there's no uniform process country-wide, and each state is a mish-mash of rules and whatever.

The Voting Rights Act says the states can't discriminate in voting, but the Federal Gov't telling the states when to allow voting, for how long voting lasts, absentee ballots, voter roll cleansing, etc, will be challenged in court, and probably successfully.

[FreepFryer]

7. Nuke it and then be willing to discuss reinstating it in exchange for a proper 1/6 commission. Nt

[ancianita]

11. Works for me.

[jalan48]

8. Maybe, possibly, considered. Sounds like strong leadership to me.

[kairos12]

13. Reforming through the "talking" filibuster won't work.

The Reich Wing will just schedule their Senators to speak ad nauseam.

[bucolic_frolic]

14. Obama's 3rd Supreme Court Justice didn't even make filibuster stage

so I don't know how much good this is going to do when we're in the minority again

[Dawson Leery]

15. At least she is now considering change.

[regnaD kciN]

16. Then ****ing DO IT, DiFi...!

I am getting so damn tired of all these "moderate" Senators talking about how they might, eventually, consider putting more of a burden on those who would filibuster. NOW is the "some day" on which they need to act. Every day that passes with nothing but "might" talk about filibuster reform is another day that further sets the current system in stone...at least until Republicans retake control of the Senate, at which point we know they'll impose those very measures to make it harder for us.

Sick of all this "woulda, coulda, shoulda"...take action NOW!