Posted on 03/26/2013 4:28:21 PM PDT by neverdem
Sens. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Mike Lee are threatening to filibuster gun-control legislation, according to a letter they plan to hand-deliver to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office on Tuesday.
“We will oppose the motion to proceed to any legislation that will serve as a vehicle for any additional gun restrictions,” the three conservatives wrote in a copy of the signed letter obtained by POLITICO.
Reid plans to bring up a gun-control measure that focuses on broadening background checks and cracking down on interstate gun-trafficking after the current Senate recess.
Conservatives are concerned that once that bill reaches the floor, amendments could stiffen restrictions on gun control.
Moreover, they understand that Reid intends to allow liberal amendments that would limit clip capacity and ban certain assault weapons to be offered — even though they would be defeated — to give Democrats a chance to vote on them. For moderate Democrats in competitive states, that amounts to an opportunity to vote no and show allegiance to gun rights.
Though they don’t use the word “filibuster” in the letter, the conservatives are leaving no doubt that they would filibuster on an initial procedural question — the motion to proceed.
Lee staged a test vote on the issue during consideration of the Senate budget last week. He tried to amend a point of order against gun control legislation to the budget but fell short. It needed a three-fifths supermajority and failed 50-49, needing 60 votes to pass. But the final tally emboldened Lee, Paul and Cruz because they were so close to a majority and a filibuster takes just 41 votes to sustain.
© 2013 POLITICO LLC
Do it!
Hey guys, do not threaten, just do it!
It sounds more like a promise than a threat.
Good for them.
i want them to do it, for months if necessary.
Good, and give McCain are sharp poke in his eye.
A planned filibuster could go on for a mighty long time but lets pace ourselves. 24 hours is a good start.
Cruz and Paul should go pay a visit to McLame and tell him to STFU or they will shut him up themselves
Awesome pic! Thanks for posting that.
Now we are talking. We need about 15 more Republicans to join this to make it a real fun time.
IMO any Republican that doesn’t join this filibuster should be primaried.
6 hours on, 12 off.
This could go on for a long time with dedicated participants.
Too bad the moss encrusted GOPe cadavers won’t sign on. Wouldn’t want to stir up the dust in the Old Boys Club, right?
With a real big stick.
Hold on, I thought only one person could filibuster, and they couldn’t leave the floor?
They should stand on the Constitution and on fundamental, God-given human rights - emphasize that this is a basic moral question of freedom. They should also filibuster at the very least any ObamaCare funding that does not require repeal of both the HHS abortion and birth control mandates - as a question of God-given and constitutionally protected First Amendment rights.
where is Lee? Where are the other Republicans out there—where are the Blue Dog Democrats? This is an issue that effects every American. Support them in this fight!
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