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ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)

21. One potential BIG problem with this reform: QUORUM CALLS could keep way more

Fri Nov 16, 2012, 12:06 PM

Nov 2012

Democrats up all night than Republicans.

Doesn't a minimum number of Senators have to be present to keep the filibuster going and prevent the filibusterer from achieving his or her goal of stopping the bill in question?

And, unless they are specifically required by Senate rules to maintain a minimum number of Republicans to answer any quorum call, why should Republicans (other than the filibusterer) ever show up? Why wouldn't they just let Democrats carry the burden of answering quorum calls from the filibusterer?

If this reform is to go forward and not have unintended consequences for Democrats, special quorum rules will have to be attached. Ideally, a quorum call would apply only to the filibusterer's party, only one member of the other party would have to be present. and no member of the filibusterer's party would be able to issue a quorum call.

Have the Democrats thought through the quorum rules that would apply to a reformed filibusterer?

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Democratic Solution To The Filibuster: Make Them Talk [View all] unhappycamper Nov 2012 OP

How about just abolish the whole thing. Warren Stupidity Nov 2012 #1

yes. ladjf Nov 2012 #2

This is a good compromise. cyclezealot Nov 2012 #9

No. To move Congress, we have to make sure that JDPriestly Nov 2012 #18

No. The filibuster does protect the voice of the minority. Yes it's been abused HereSince1628 Nov 2012 #23

"the guarantee that a minority as small as 1 senator can plead a case" Warren Stupidity Nov 2012 #24

Well, that's the current circumstance yes. And yes, there is no doubt it is a tool to delay. HereSince1628 Nov 2012 #26

It isn't the last four years, it is the last 100 years. Warren Stupidity Nov 2012 #29

It's sort of difficult to look at this graph and not see an increased use of filibuster HereSince1628 Nov 2012 #34

I did not claim that we aren't in a filibuster storm. Warren Stupidity Nov 2012 #36

If they eliminated the rule that allows them to merely declare a filibuster without actually having Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #27

The Republicans has been abusing the system for 35 years. Panasonic Nov 2012 #32

That's easy to say when we are in power DefenseLawyer Nov 2012 #28

Yup, that is the downside. Warren Stupidity Nov 2012 #30

Then the Republican minority continues to become a super-minority Panasonic Nov 2012 #31

I'm happy he can admit he was wrong CanonRay Nov 2012 #3

Good! City Lights Nov 2012 #4

That's right... loyalsister Nov 2012 #35

Bout time... ProudProgressiveNow Nov 2012 #5

This makes me very optimistic for our future. OnionPatch Nov 2012 #6

Make them actually filibuster. patrice Nov 2012 #7

At the risk of sounding unkind... duh. phantom power Nov 2012 #8

I was watching a documentary on LBJ last night ( A must see BTW) on Netflix srican69 Nov 2012 #10

But that was an extremely rare event Kaleva Nov 2012 #15

Don't we need Senator Sanders to filibuster... SHRED Nov 2012 #11

The thought of Senator Sanders filibustering makes me very happy. JDPriestly Nov 2012 #19

Can't happen: cloture vote would have the required 60 votes. Warren Stupidity Nov 2012 #25

Use McCain's craptastic threat to filibuster a Rice nomination as the perfect excuse RomneyLies Nov 2012 #12

I would only suggest sulphurdunn Nov 2012 #13

Reduce the number of votes needed to overcome the fuckybuster from 60 to 53. librechik Nov 2012 #14

Been sayin' that for years and years... PoliticalBiker Nov 2012 #16

Mr Reid, my suggestions for the opposing party filibustering are as follows: MyOpinion-2 Nov 2012 #17

I will believe it when I see it. I think the good Senator has acted tough before with rhett o rick Nov 2012 #20

One potential BIG problem with this reform: QUORUM CALLS could keep way more ProgressiveEconomist Nov 2012 #21

Reference on quorum calls during filibusters: a 2011 CRS paper st senate.gov: ProgressiveEconomist Nov 2012 #22

Time to go nuclear on them. Panasonic Nov 2012 #33

Someone please explain this to me Courtesy Flush Nov 2012 #37