Community | February 08, 2010 | 10 comments

Some Democrats Seek a Change in Filibuster Rules

source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702403.html

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Should the Senate change the filibuster rules? It's an idea worth discussing. After all, the House of Representatives had a very productive 2009 which included the passage of a jobs bill and a clean energy bill. The Senate, on the other hand, had a very dismal year, hampered by the obstructionist strategy taken by the Republicans. It seems absurd that it would take a 60 vote super-majority to get anything done, but that's exactly what happened in 2009 with one party hell-bent on stopping all progress just to spite the other party, (and to the detriment of the American people).

So, this may be an idea worth looking at.
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10 comments // Some Democrats Seek a Change in Filibuster Rules

  • Toughth
    • 0
      Toughth  

    • When one man can hold the country for ransom we need to change the rules to simple majority gets rid of a filibuster instead of sixty squabling people trying to pressure one mere vote to get rid of it.

    • 5 months ago
  • fun_size
    • +1
      fun_size  

    • I totally agreed with Saladin. The senate is no longer fulfilling its role in government anymore. Instead of being a place where more "liberal" bills from the House come to cool off and make compromises, its a place where special interests reign supreme and tax dollars are wasted on pork and personal bribes.

    • 2 years ago
  • unclecharlie
    • +1
      unclecharlie  

    • Well, the democrats mastered the use of the filibuster when they filibustered the Civil Rights Act. LBJ thanked the republicans for helping him pass it. So, they're not ALL evil- (besides, MLK, Jr. was a republican....)

    • 2 years ago
  • fun_size
  • Dagum
  • Saladin
    • +1
      Saladin  

    • Seeking a change in filibuster rules is cutting reform short.

      The real solution? Eliminate the damn senate. Its purpose right from the inception of the Republic was to prevent total public control and protect vested interests (slavery, etc.)

    • 2 years ago
  • common_sense_please
    • 0
      common_sense_please  

    • I think the filibuster should be lowered down to require 52 votes. That way the Senate President be he/she Democrat or Republican (or member of whichever party is in the majority) could not automatically override the filibuster but at the same time this crap of 60 votes or nothing will finally come to an end. I personally also feel that if they re-evaluate the filibuster they should also seriously look at term limits and even possibly some type of recall vote by the voters of each state so that if a Senator gets to DC and forgets they were elected by the people--not special interests--and that we pay their salary and want them to actually do their job rather than just sit around and obstruct and generally act like petty 3 year olds--we could easily remind them

    • 2 years ago
  • blackheartman
    • +1
      blackheartman  

    • Well if they don't, the republicans will the next time that they're in power to keep the dems from using the filibuster. Of course, the dems barely have the balls to threaten a filibuster when in the minority.

      The rule is problematic. It really just permits a form of blackmail of the many by a few. It should be scrapped.

    • 2 years ago
  • CreditFigaro
    • 0
      CreditFigaro  
    • blackheartman:

      I don't know about that, it should be a bastion of defense for the minority. However, it should be costly, and it is. If the democrats want to win, bring the bill to the floor and let it be filibustered, then everyone will start to see the ridiculousness of the republican side.

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
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