Who can answer this question ?

[kentuck]

I have seen contradictory comments on DU.

When the bill leaves the conference and goes to the House and Senate for a final vote, does it need a simple majority or 60 votes? Can it still be filibustered by the Senate?

If it is filibustered, can the Majority Leader keep them on the floor to defend their position? How long should he keep them in session if they filibuster?

Can someone clear this up?

[hayu_lol]

1. I can't answer your question...

but I appreciate your straightforward question. Thanks.

[kirby]

2. The resulting conference report can be filibustered and needs 60...

Except for conference reports that have to to with budget reconciliation.

There is a rule that says once one House has approved a bill, it cannot be recommitted to the conference.
Therefore if the House passes the bill first, the Senate cannot move to send the bill back to the conference committee.

[Winterblues]

3. Putting the Bill on the Table can be filibustered

There can be no cloture vote since no Amendments can be added at this point. If the tabling filibuster is broken then the vote upon the Bill itself takes only a simple Majority.

[kentuck]

4. So it can be filibustered?

If someone makes the motion to table the legislation? Then it would be more difficult to get the 60 votes than it was last night.

[Winterblues]

11. The process of bringing a bill to the floor can be filibustered

Once it hits the floor it only takes a Majority vote. Yes if there are changes in the final product that either Nelson or Lieberman don't like they can join the Republican Filibuster to keep the bill from hitting the floor. I think there was so much pressure put upon those two by the Obama Administration that I doubt they will join with the Republicans over it. They may very well vote against the Bill but like I said it only takes a Majority at that point..

[zipplewrath]

5. Multiple questions

First, the bill that comes out of the conference committee can still be filibustered. The only way to avoid it is if it can be classified (by the leadership) as a reconciliation bill of an appropriation. That generally is a heavy handed way of pushing through legislation that is avoided except for true appropriation bills (the major ones that are passed every year as part of the budgeting process).

As for the demands of filibusters. There is a vote to "close debate" (cloture) and no you don't actually have to stand there and talk. There are a few things that the GOP has to do to keep debate open, but mostly it consists of having someone show up once and hour or so and ask for a quorum call or something procedural.

[kentuck]

7. I suppose the Repubs are spending their Xmas vacations with Lieberman and Nelson?

Because they still want to kill this bill.

[kirby]

6. Read this...

http://keithhennessey.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/MinorityRightsWithLetter.pdf (PDF File)

This is the Republic stalling tactics as written by Repuke Sen. Judd Gregg.

The last section lists their stalling tactics AFTER passage.

[kentuck]

9. Thanks..

Very useful. They will do everything to delay the final vote. The President will need to get more involved in this next step.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. This is very handy information to know. Thanks.

(Some people have difficulty opening pdf files, they should be labeled as such in a link)

[Ian David]

8. Call Thom Hartmann and ask. He can answer your question. n/t