McConnell attacks Reid's threat to change filibuster rules (a 'simple majority' should pass bills)

[seafan]

Mitch McConnell blows up at Harry Reid over filibuster rules

By Manu Raju
July 18, 2012

12:24 PM EDT



McConnell attacked Reid over a threat to change the Senate filibuster rules. | John Shinkle/POLITICO

Mitch McConnell attacked Harry Reid on the Senate floor over a threat to change Senate filibuster rules, warning that it could allow the GOP to kill Barack Obama’s health care law with a simple majority if Republicans win control of the Senate.

In a tense, 45-minute exchange Wednesday morning unusual even in today’s polarized Capitol climate, McConnell ambushed Reid, warning that any changes in filibuster rules would lead to a slippery slope that could kill major Democratic priorities if Republicans win control of the Senate.

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McConnell’s outrage comes as Reid has considered backpedaling on a promise from last year that he wouldn’t change the rules other than through regular order, which requires two-thirds support of the Senate. If Democrats keep the majority, Reid is signaling he’d use arcane procedures to change the rules by 51 votes so senators can no longer filibuster to prevent bills from coming up to the floor for debate. Under Reid’s plan, they‘d still be able to filibuster in any number of circumstances, including to block a final vote on legislation, though he suggested that senators should actually carry out their filibusters on the floor, rather than simply threaten them.

But McConnell opposes any changes to the filibuster, and he now says if he’s in the majority it’ll be hard to argue to his conference why the GOP shouldn’t change the rules by a simple majority — given Reid’s new position on the matter.

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This is EXACTLY why McConnell went ballistic.

Reid has undoubtedly exposed McConnell's own plan (to change filibuster rules), if McConnell becomes Senate president in January.

IMHO, Mitch ("our number one priority is to make Obama a one-term president") McConnell fully intends, himself, to change the filibuster rules to a simple majority vote, to make it easier to pass the GOP agenda, if he takes over as Senate Majority Leader.


And because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has seen the light and recognizes the pressing need to change the filibuster rule so that a simple majority vote will pass legislation (and end the 3.5-year-long GOP obstructionism), Reid has simultaneously undercut McConnell's devious plans AND exposed the very nature of what would undoubtedly be the outcome of a Republican-controlled Senate in January.



The nuclear option. Fifty-one votes to pass bills. You know, the way the Constitution intended.


Bottom line:

1. The filibuster rule must, indeed, be changed to a simple majority vote to pass legislation.

2. We must not allow the GOP to take over control of the Senate. The consequences of that would be devastating.



A GOP-controlled Senate with only 51 votes needed to pass whatever regressive and punitive legislation the hard right conservatives conjure up, would be America's demise.


The path is clear. We MUST NOT ALLOW Republicans to control the Senate (or the House) in the next Congress.


Attention, voters. This is not a drill.



The window of opportunity to rescue any hopes of improving people's lives in America is slamming shut.



Vote these extreme Republicans OUT. At both the federal and state levels.


All of them.

[No Elephants]

1. Kabuki. Reid threatened a VERY mild change to the 60 vote rule when there were 60

in the Democratic Caucus and he did not actually attempt it then.

When I see some action on this that I can believe, I will get excited. But kabuki is very boring. And, when it comes from people I helped put in office, it is very insulting and disappointing to boot.