Possible Filibuster Reform

[schexyschteve]

Filibuster Reform: Democrats, GOP Gear Up For Fight

WASHINGTON - A brewing and potentially bitter fight over Democratic efforts to curb filibusters is threatening to inflame partisan tensions in the Senate, even as President Barack Obama and Republicans explore whether they can compromise on top tier issues such as debt reduction and taxes.

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Comments

[idemandjustice]

This would be fantastic. I think the filibuster is too important to go away, but I would love to see it returned to what it once was.

[world_dancer]

Yes. I would much prefer the minority to have to work its butt off and for the two side to see that some reasonable compromise needs to be made for a bill if there's a real objection.

I think it would cut out the petty crap because who wants to work 24/7 for weeks on end over pettiness? And it would still be there for something that truly needed to be halted and which the people believed in.

[doverz]

Filibuster reform would be so awesome.

[jadehunter]

Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon has proposed filibuster limits that include requiring senators delaying legislation to talk continually about it on the Senate floor, much like the senator portrayed by the actor James Stewart did in the 1939 movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."

That type of filibuster has been extremely rare for decades.

At the very least, THIS. Freaking MAKE them stand up and put some effort into it, don't just crumple at the first threat.

[bushy_brow]

At the very least, THIS. Freaking MAKE them stand up and put some effort into it, don't just crumple at the first threat.

THIS! And not just make them work for it, but make them be SEEN obstructing, as opposed to it all happening with a phone call. If they want so badly to make the government STOP working, they need to own it and have the guts to be the FACE of government not working.

[mirhanda]

+1

[emofordino]

ABSOLUTELY THIS.

[hinoema]

Democrats are threatening to resort to a seldom-used procedure that could let them change the rules without GOP support, all but inviting Republican retaliation.

I'm sorry, but what they're doing now- voting no on everything just because and abusing the fuck out of filibusters- isn't 'retaliation'? Fuck them.

[little_ribbit]

The expected retaliation in this case would be the Republicans doing the same kind of day one rule change in 2015, if the Republicans win that election. Or otherwise doing something big and structural with long-lasting effects on how the Senate does business.

[hinoema]

Well, I hate to tell them this, but there's a difference between what the Dems are trying to do here, which is rectify a rule that's been compromised to the point of uselessness, and flat out rigging the deck.

[kyra_neko_rei]

Like they wouldn't negate the filibuster the instant they're in charge again anyway. They were the first ones to threaten it, after all.

illinois people

[recorded]

Groan. Mark Kirk is against filibuster reform. Tweet him to stop being an asshole.

IDK about anyone else, but I hate those "write your congress person" forms that demand all your info. Not sure twitter is effective in ~reaching congress people~, but hey better than nothing.

Re: illinois people

[girlwonderrobin]

If you spam them from all angles--social media, phones, email, etc--you're more likely to get the desired response.

Personally, imho, I think if you're an elected official, your personal beliefs stop at the office door. You believe what your constituency tells you to believe, you vote the way they tell you to vote, because they're the ones who voted to put YOU in. Don't go on a fuckin' power trip and think YOUR opinion is the ~end of discussion~.

Re: illinois people

[emofordino]

i wish this was a mandatory memo/contract thing that all elected officials had to sign before getting sworn in, because it seems that quite a few of them (mostly republicans, but it's not a partisan problem by any means) have forgotten what it means to be a representative in a representative democracy.