Democrats Seek Changes to Senate Procedures (NY Times)

[pinto]

Democrats Seek Changes to Senate Procedures

By CARL HULSE
Published: December 24, 2010

WASHINGTON — Frustrated by regular filibusters and other procedural blockades, Senate Democrats are urging their leadership to negotiate with Republicans to change the rules that govern how the Senate does business.

The Democrats would leave intact the ability of the minority party to filibuster legislation and nominations, meaning that in most cases it would still take 60 votes to get anything done in the Senate. But they want to require senators to be on the floor if they intend to try to debate a bill to death and would make other changes to streamline the Senate’s operations, including ending the practice of secret “holds” by a single senator on legislation or nominees.

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In a letter to Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, Democratic senators expressed “strong sentiment” for ending what they see as Republican misuse of Senate process in recent years.

“We believe the current abuse of the rules by the minority threatens the ability of the Senate to do the necessary work of the nation, and we urge you to take steps to bring these abuses of our rules to an end,” said the Dec. 18 letter signed by 56 Democrats and independents, including all Democratic senators remaining in the Congress that opens Jan. 5.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/25/us/politics/25rules.html

[MrTriumph]

1. Day late, dollar short. The damage continues.

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