Democrats push to speed up slow Senate

[Joanne98]

Senate Democrats spent the lame-duck session slogging through endless motions to break filibusters, yet they’re quietly maneuvering to curtail these Senate stall tactics – even though they’ll have a weaker caucus next year.

After weeks of closed-door meetings, Democratic reformers are pushing a handful of rules changes, including a simple majority to change Senate rules at the start of a Congress, a requirement for senators to actually filibuster when they’re filibustering and a push to get rid of anonymous holds.



Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46753.html#ixzz18xGE6FEn

[phleshdef]

1. Yea, I think the filibuster should be something that requires work.

And what Bernie Sanders did a few weeks ago should be the template for what everyone should have to do.

[msongs]

2. all this crap about holds and blocks needs to be dumped nt

[gmoney]

4. Yeah, they're always crying about wanting "an up or down vote" on everything

But then they keep blocking everything from even being debated, let alone voted on.

[vaberella]

5. How do you think that's going to happen with the repubs we have in office?!

[old mark]

3. ...and maybe get rid of some of the republicans next election?....nt

[vaberella]

6. This should be the primary goal. n/t

[Imajika]

7. I am kind of concerned about doing this now...

Even though President Obama will likely win reelection in 2012, there is a real chance we could lose the Senate.

We are having to defend dramatically more seats than the GOP, and all they need is 4 to take over.

It would have been nice to do this at the beginning of last session, but going into 2012 it is kind of iffy. The Republicans have the House now anyway, so nothing the Democrats in the Senate want is going anywhere anyway.

I guess on principal it is worth changing these rules, but this isn't the best tactical time to do it.