Harry Reid: Filibuster Changes Will Take Place In January

[Tx4obama]

Harry Reid: Filibuster Changes Will Take Place In January

WASHINGTON -- Keeping with his post-election pledge to reform the filibuster, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday proffered that changes to the rules of the upper chamber will be made, leaving it up to Republicans if they would like to participate.

"There are discussions going on now (over filibuster reform), but I want to tell everybody here. I'm happy I've had a number of Republicans come to me, a few Democrats,” Reid told reporters Tuesday at his weekly press availability. “We're going to change the rules. We cannot continue in this way. I hope we can get something that the Republicans will work with us on.”

“But it won't be a handshake,” he added. “We tried that last time. It didn't work.”

Asked to confirm if his comments meant that the rules would change and Republicans can choose to be a part of that change if they want, the Nevada Democrat responded, “That's right. Yup."

-snip-

Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/04/harry-reid-filibuster-reform_n_2239401.html

Note: the headline on the front page of HuffPo reads: Harry Reid: Filibuster Reform Coming Whether GOP Wants It Or Not

[Sekhmets Daughter]

1. Give 'em hell Harry!

I love it.

[Cha]

2. Not sure how that's going to work but

Last edited Wed Dec 5, 2012, 04:14 PM - Edit history (1)

but here's hoping it does!

[Old and In the Way]

26. Every new Congress gets to vote on the organizing rules

to conduct business during that legislative session. Right now, it takes 2/3 majority to overcome a filibuster - just to bring a bill to the floor to debate. Reid is proposing a 51 majority (as was the case years back) to debate and vote on bills. Republicans have been avoiding going on the record against Democratic legislation, by filibustering the majority Party's attempts to bring bills up for discussion and vote. Republicans will now have to go on the record with their votes - something most of these Senators want desperately to avoid.

On edit: The organizing votes only require 51 affirmative votes, so the Republicans really can't stop Harry and the Democrats from changing the rules for the new Congress. Republicans will whine mightily, but want really gives them a sad is that they now will have a real legislative record that they'll have to run on in 2014 and beyond.

[Cha]

28. Thank you Old aItWay.. For the "Organizing votes" part, especially!

YAY!

[Cali_Democrat]

3. This....

deserves a bouncy smiley thingy:

[rhett o rick]

4. I never did understand the handshake crap. Did he really think he could

trust a Republican? Really? Really?

[trayfoot]

6. GO HARRY!

[Dustlawyer]

17. One would use a contract for a big deal every time. With something as important as the U.S.

Senate at stake, damn Harry, what were you thinking?

[dsc]

20. It had worked in the past

that is the only way a body with rules as nuts as those the Senate has can work. You have to have trustworthy people. Sadly, they have proven themselves untrustworthy. As horrid as Trent Lott was, to name one leader, he wouldn't have broken his word like McConnel did.

[rhett o rick]

23. So Sen Reid didnt know McConnel was untrustworthy? Or did McConnel

suddenly turn untrustworthy? Just seems strange to me. THe result was two years of crap for America.

As far as the past, we are past the past. Republicans used to have principles. Now they have nothing. They are mindless, spineless tools for the oligarchy.

[NewJeffCT]

25. He was pressured by the leader of the GOP

Rush Limbaugh.

[Enrique]

5. “That's right. Yup."

Harry's on a roll, he just put Elizabeth Warren on the Banking Committee over the whining of the banks.

[SCVDem]

7. Filibuster 2013

Instead of a phone book they will get to read a Kindle.

At least it won't be boring.

[annabanana]

11. The Repubs will. because their policies are

unsupportable and very unpopular with most Americans. Democrats will be able to talk issues and garner support out here in the real world.

When they start rolling the cots in, the cameras will start rolling.

[dlwickham]

12. what would happen if the battery died

does the filibusterer end?

[meow2u3]

13. They'll just bring the AC adapter

and hook up the device to the nearest socket.

[dlwickham]

15. cool

[Bohunk68]

8. Color me cynical,

but I'll believe it when it happens. We've been led down the primrose path before. Fool me once, etc......

[donco]

9. I kinda like

the sound of “That's right. Yup."

[4dsc]

10. Seeing is believing.

I'll believe it when it happens and won't hold my breath till then.

[1ProudAtheist]

14. Santa Clause Is Coming

to the floor of the US Senate!

[Phlem]

16. I hope he follows this fight

and succeeds. I've been following him for some time now and sometimes Harry can be underwhelming.

-p

[SouthernDonkey]

18. It's good to see old Harry kickin' em in the nuts!

He's got the support of the majority of Americans when it comes to muzzling these Rethuglicans. It's about damned time. He's earned a lot of points with me in the last year. Lets see how he stands his ground.

[BootinUp]

19. I am hopeful, but won't hold my breath. nt

[xxxsdesdexxx]

21. So are Feinstein and Kerry on board?

[UCmeNdc]

22. Make it so that if a senator wants to filibuster they have to stand on the Senate floor

and actually conduct a filibuster.

[Mr.Turnip]

24. I like this new aggressive and emboldened Harry Reid.

[aaaaaa5a]

27. Issue one: Judges!

The senate needs to take week and push all of Obama's judges to confirmation.