Posted on 10/11/2011 6:02:14 AM PDT by Libloather
Reid defends Senate rules change
By Daniel Strauss - 10/11/11 08:27 AM ET
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) defended his unilateral change to the Senate's rules in an op-ed published Tuesday.
In the Washington Post op-ed, Reid says his decision last Thursday to change the Senate rules —informally referred to as the "nuclear option"— to stop Republicans from requiring votes on amendments once the Senate has voted to move the legislation to final passage has restored order to the chamber.
"The Senate rule change we made last week has been inaccurately described, including by Marc A. Thiessen on this page, as a resort to the ‘nuclear option.’ But rather than a nuclear option that would have forever altered the character of the Senate by limiting the minority’s ability to challenge legislation, the change we made Thursday was a return to order," Reid writes.
Reid argues that the Senate rules "honor the rights of the minority party" and allow each senator to influence legislation.
"But in recent years, the minority party has abused its right to debate and delay, and has upset the balance between minority rights and cooperation on which a productive Senate depends," Reid continues in the op-ed.
Reid adds that the rules change fixes an imbalance in the Senate.
"Now, 60 votes to end debate will mean debate actually ends, as the rules of the Senate intended. We restored the balance between individual rights and comity in the rules of the Senate," Reid argues. "But this change goes only so far. For the good of our economy and our country, I hope Republicans will work with us to restore that balance in our larger political debate in the interest of finding practical, bipartisan solutions to put Americans back to work."
Republicans have indicated that, in response to the rules change, they will be more hesitant to let the Senate go about its usual business without unanimous consent.
On Thursday night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) triggered the so-called nuclear option — unilaterally changing Senate rules by a simple majority vote to stop the minority from forcing votes on uncomfortable amendments. It’s the same tactic the majority would use to undercut the minority’s ability to filibuster. And that’s why it’s called “nuclear” — it dramatically alters the balance of power between the majority and minority. It is not a step to be taken lightly.
It’ll just be switched back when the Republicans are in the majority. And the Republicans will let it be switched back.
There's a lot of blood under the bridge already ~ there'll be more.
Senate comity has been destroyed forever.
will dingy hairy agree with his own statement after the 2012 elections and the 2013 Senate inaugurations
Climbing down into the bunker so early Harry?
16 Month out? The internal numbers must be scaring
the heck out of you!
if obama had an evil twin, it would congress.
be
but the Senate 'Comedy' goes on unabated
Harry Reid can’t be a dictatorial thug.
He has such a soft voice.
You guys should stop over-reacting.
He’s got a soft voice. So it must be okay.
Senator Reid admits that this is a rules change. In doing so, however, he is admitting that he is violating the rules since a rules change needs 67 votes. By doing so with only a majority he and the Democrats are abusing their position and showing contempt for the rule of law. He also conveniently leaves out that the reason that the Republicans called for a suspension of the rules after the end of debate was that Reid prevented them from offering amendments during the debate. This is hardly the way to restore comity to the Senate but rather the tactics of a tyrant.
In other news, Harry Reid renames a crap sandwich “filet mignon” as it dribbles from his lips. “Hmm, hmmm, hmmm! That’s delicious!”, he exclaims...
Before they slither out in the waning days of 2012, Reid and crew will re-institute the former rule, as they face minority status in the 2013 Senate.
They know the Pubbies won’t pull the nuclear option when they gain majority status for the 2013 Senate.
Reid wins (2011).
Reid wins (2013).
Unless the Pubbies grow a backbone. Who wants to bet on that, after Lott, Frist, McConnell?
Have we heard anything from McCain and the rest of his gang who prevented this from happening during the Republican Senate?
“the change we made Thursday was a return to order,” Reid writes. “
Just as long as Reid remembers that words come back to haunt and karma’s such a bitch!
If the GOP holds the House [which they will], takes the Senate, and takes the WH in 2012 - watch the DEMs bitch and moan when the first order of business on 1/21/2012 is to REPEAL Obamacare [if it previously stands SCOTUS ruling].
Remember the old adage - “Be careful what you wish for ‘cuz you just might get it” ...
I wonder how Harry will feel when the GOP uses the nuclear option to repeal Deathcare?
GOP should use this and change the senate rules after O is out, so that 51 votes is enough for everything.
Yes, this Reid move still holds 60 to end the debate, but nevertheless, this was a major change of rules. Now GOP can tinker with the rules too. They can announce it before the election:
“If we get majority, we will repeal ObamaCare by any means necessary - using Harry Reid’s rule change if necessary to end filibuster”
Besides, without such rule change, ObamaCare will not be repealed. Rats have probably 45-46 senators (and few RINOs) so they will filibuster.
We need to change the rules and Reid’s move is a gift. We should use it. Public doesn’t care too much about the fine details.
LOL. Another forceful response from the republican party. What a joke.
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