Posted on 12/24/2010 1:03:52 PM PST by reaganaut1
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.
Republicans are likely to resist, and should no compromise be found, some Democrats are prepared to propose their own package of rules changes on the first day of the session. Doing so could touch off a bitter floor fight, escalate the already high partisan tensions in the chamber and hinder President Obama’s ability to advance legislation.
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.
Republicans have cautioned against any unilateral move to rewrite Senate procedure, saying Democrats would regret it if they fall back into the minority.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The RINOS will probably go along with the plan.
wow, they better be careful, they may get what they wish for... and in two years, as minority party, they may regret like never before, their grab for power.
Don’t count on it. I’m not...
They’re frustrated?? They got everything they wanted, not enough I guess. Oh, the internment camps are not complete, I see.
“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”
Oh Hogwash! The Democrats never saw an abuse of the rules they didn’t love! Look what they did with the Health Care Bi. Does any Republican really believe the Dems would work with the Repubs if the tables were turned?
What was it obama said? “We won!”
Don’t fall for this!
Like playing 4 Across with a 5 year old. Gotta change the rules so they can win no matter what.
A rarely reported issue that the media ignores is that Harry Reid has been “filling the tree” with meaningless amendments on every bill, so that the republicans (and the moderate democrats) couldn’t submit any of their own amendments.
That is the major reason the republicans forced cloture on everything — because they had no chance to offer amendments.
Fear not... Democrats. It may be Christmas and we may be busy celebrating with friends and family but we, as the Minutemen of old, are ever vigilant. We may not be posting much these days. But... we are watching... Merry Christmas!
Amazing how the view differs from the majority and the minority viewpoint. The rats are still a majority in the senate but that could change in ‘12. Be very careful what you do now, rats....you may get to eat a tiny bit of the tasty cheese but get your necks broken in the process.
Don't count on it.
As we saw with the dirty dozen who supported the repeal of DADT, coupled with a WEAK, WUSS, RINO, Leader (McConnell) it would not surprise me at all.
However, woe be the R who votes or agrees to that as they WILL BE TOAST at when they run again in their next election.
Make the deal. When the Republicans retake the Senate and White House, this will play in our favor.
Sorry, I meant supported START....
You can't trust any elected Republican to my mind. We need to flog them and threaten them with no-votes every chance we get. Their spines get limp and they succumb to the media in that hell hole Washington.
Good old cut and run pom pom queen Trent Lott.
Democrats complaining about legislative abuse?
That’s pretty rich, considering what they did with a disgraceful lame duck session full of members about to get the boot, and the bills they rammed thru despite a clear public rebuke 6 weeks previously at the voting booth.
In this area, Harry Reid is about the last person who is entitled to cry foul!
Breaking news.
I wonder how far the RINOs will bend over to accommodate the Dims. With Snow, Collins and Moocowski, count those RINO votes for the Dims. Better to deal with the devil you know.........
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