Senator Harry Reid Calls For Filibuster Reform in Senate Floor Speech

[Tx4obama]

WASHINGTON -- After an exasperated rant about Republican obstructionism, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday night that it's time to revamp the Senate's longstanding filibuster rule.

"If there were anything that ever needed changing in this body, it's the filibuster rule, because it's been abused, abused and abused," Reid said on the Senate floor.

Reid's call for changing the procedural rule, which requires 60 votes to end debate on a bill, came after Republicans refused to take up and pass an otherwise noncontroversial bill aimed at reauthorizing the Export-Import bank. Republican leaders said they wanted more time to offer amendments, which forced Reid to file a procedural motion delaying the vote to Monday. Sixty votes will be needed to end debate on the bill, and a simple majority will be required to pass it. The bill regularly clears both chambers with little fanfare and already passed the House unamended and with an overwhelming majority.

"I have been here in Congress 30 years, but this is a new one. Even bills that (Republicans) agree on, they want to mess around with. In years past, this would have gone through here just like this," Reid said, snapping his fingers. "The House passed something 330-93, and we're here playing around with it? It should be done. We should have passed it yesterday. This thing is going to expire."

-snip-

Be sure to read the rest of article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/11/harry-reid-filibuster-reform_n_1510167.html

[onestepforward]

1. Should have been changed several years ago.

Better late than never, I guess. I hope he can get it done.

[kag]

2. Our tax dollars at filibuster...again.

Notice Al Franken was presiding?

[april]

3. I am so sick of the R and the games that they play

[bjobotts]

4. Do you realize

Just how many good bills and appointees would have already been passed and into law if not for this senate filibuster being used as a weapon to kill the functioning of government.

When it has been abused this much it no longer serves any functioning good. Get rid of this unconstitutional senate rule blocking our democratic process now. Stop letting 40 senators destroy our democracy.