Reid: Filibuster Reform Is Happening -- Hopes Republicans Help, But A Handshake Won't Work

[bigtree]

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) fierce resistance to reforming the filibuster isn’t fazing Harry Reid, who insists that he will weaken the minority party’s power to obstruct legislative business with Republican support or without it.

“There are discussions going on now, but I want to tell everybody here: I’m happy, I’ve had a number of Republicans come to me and a few Democrats,” the Democratic majority leader told reporters Tuesday afternoon. “We’re going to change the rules. We cannot continue in this way. So I hope we can get something Republicans will work with us on.

“But it won’t be a handshake,” Reid added. “We tried that last time; it didn’t work.”

At the beginning of next Congress, Reid will be able to bypass the two-thirds majority ordinarily required for Senate rule changes and approve them with 51 votes. He hopes to deny the minority at least two existing powers: one to block legislative debate from beginning, and another to filibuster silently without a critical mass of senators in the chamber voicing their opposition. Other rules changes are also under discussion.

And with a 55-45 Democratic majority in January, he’s confident he’ll succeed.


read: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/12/harry-reid-filibuster-reform.php

[DCKit]

1. Just in case anyone is wondering...

Chinless Mitch promised not to use the filibuster to shut down the Senate as long as Harry Reid agreed not to fuck with the filibuster.

Long story short, McConnell is a big, fat liar. He deserves all the hell on earth that's going to rain down on his pointy, little head.

[Volaris]

5. Yep. Mitch conned Harry into playing a game of Roshambo,

and Mitch went first. What Mitch DIDN'T expect was for Harry (who used to be a champion boxer) to get the hell up off the floor.

Now Mitch sees what's coming, and don't like this game no more.

The Senate Majority Leader will go down in legislative history as someone NOT to piss off.

DO IT HARRY!!!

[Old and In the Way]

2. I'm more than OK with this.

Sure, the argument is being made that the filibuster rules will also favor Republicans when the Democrats are in the minority. But the difference is, if Republicans ramrod their anti-middle-class agenda down the American voters' collective throats, I do believe that they'll pay a greater price for their legislative malpractice in the next election cycle. "Up or down vote"...remember that incessant demand from your Party, Mitch? That's all Harry's doing - making sure both parties debate and vote on the legislation, not avoid the issues by filibustering the rules to bring legislation to the floor for debate and vote. Harry just wants Republicans to run on their voting record.

Sucks to be Mitch and his band of obstructionists in the next Congress.

[Javaman]

3. I will believe it when I see it. nt

[Raffi Ella]

4. love it.

Go get'em Harry.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

6. and when the shoe is on the other foot??? n/t

[bigtree]

7. it's not the end of filibustering

. . . just the end of aspects like secret holds, blocking bills from votes, and effortless, unilateral obstruction. We should be able to work under those terms.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. as the Zen philosopher said... we shall see. n/t