McConnell's Antics Compelling Dems To Push Filibuster Reform - HuffPo

[WillyT]

McConnell's Antics Compelling Dems To Push Filibuster Reform
HuffingtonPost
First Posted: 12- 6-10 02:10 PM | Updated: 12- 6-10 02:15 PM

<snip>

WASHINGTON — At a caucus meeting late last week, a group of vocal, primarily junior, Senate Democrats urged colleagues to seriously consider reforming the chamber's rules in a response to the Republican leadership's continued threat to filibustering their legislative output.

At a closed-door meeting on Thursday, members pointed to a letter written by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to block any bills prior to dealing with tax cuts and budgets.

"Several Senators got up and said the way the McConnell letter came down and the way Republicans have been blockading everything should be used as a case to make rule changes," a top Senate Democratic aide told the Huffington Post.

This isn't the first time Democrats have tried to ramp up support for reforming the Senate's procedural underpinnings. But the effort is gaining steam, the aide said, relaying that several gray beards in the party have begun embracing the idea as well.

To keep momentum going, two of the chamber's strongest filibuster reform proponents — Sens. Tom Udall (D-NM) and Tom Harin (D-Iowa) — have begun circulating a letter written by some of the more prominent congressional academics and historians, laying out the case that procedural obstructionism needs to be modified.

<snip>

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/06/filibuster-reform-over-mitch-mcconnell-antics-_n_792649.html

Udall has gone even a step further, setting up a separate web page on how filibuster reform could make its way through the Senate: http://tomudall.senate.gov/?p=blog&id=719

:kick:

[Joanne98]

1. That's what they said a year ago!

[WillyT]

2. Apparently, I Have A Few Smoldering Embers Of Hope Left...

:hi:

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. Harry Reid is now in possession of the driest powder possible.

Been keeping it dry for a long, long time. So color me skeptical!

[WillyT]

4. Ya Think It'll Still Ignite ???

Archaeologists will probably find Harry Reid's powder 1,000's of years from now, and wonder... "What was it used for?"

:hi:

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. they can use it to dust the fossils for fingerprints!

:rofl:

[WillyT]

7. LOL !!!

:rofl:

:hi:

[ieoeja]

5. Just in time for the C onservative majority in the Senate to pass legislation by the GOP House.

Maybe not the best time for this? Republicans plus half a dozen Conservative Democrats a majority makes. With the House about to be in Republican control, the only legislation that can be sent to the Senate to die is Conservative legislation. Pass this, and we have a de facto Republican control of the entire legislature.

[PhilosopherKing]

8. bingo

It's too late.

[angstlessk]

10. That is exactly what I was going to post...just in time for the

republican simple majority after the 2012 elections...grrrr

[SpiralHawk]

9. Republicons should try doing something FOR America for once

People are totally fed up with their negativity and FAIL. They have absolutely no positive ideas, other than to further enrich the already rich.

[geek tragedy]

11. Too late for filibuster reform to do anything but evil.

The filibuster will be our friend for the next decade or so.