"McCaskill says she's just two votes shy of ending Senate's secret holds"

[Clio the Leo]

McCaskill says she's just two votes shy of ending Senate's secret holds

By Michael O'Brien - 06/11/10 03:09 PM ET
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said Friday she's two votes short of having enough support to end the Senate's practice of secret holds.

McCaskill said veteran Republican Sen. Richard Lugar (Ind.) had signed onto her letter calling for an end to the long-standing Senate privilege of placing anonymous holds on presidential nominees.

McCaskill broke the news on Friday afternoon via Twitter:

New signature on letter to abolish secret holds. Thank you Sen Dick Lugar. Now we have 65, two more and we have enough to change the rules.

The Missouri centrist has led the push to abolish the process, which gives minority party senators the ability to hold up nominees. Republicans have used the privilege to some effect against President Barack Obama's nominees, most notably senior Sen. Richard Shelby's (R-Ala.) hold earlier this year on 70 of the president's picks for various positions requiring federal confirmation.

Senate rules require 67 votes, just over a two-thirds majority, to change the rules. The supermajority requirement is even higher than the 60 votes normally needed to end debate and quash a filibuster.

http://thehill.com/blogs/twitter-room/other-news/102749-mccaskill-says-shes-two-votes-shy-of-ending-senates-secret-holds

[Mz Pip]

1. Here's a guess.

The Senators opposed to changing this are the ones who are placing the anonymous holds. I'd put money on it.

[PBS Poll-435]

2. Now that is something that really needs to end. And quickly

'Secret holds' are irresponsible and one of the most glaring anti-democratic things about the Congress.

[Arkana]

3. Damn! The question is: who?

Also, I can't believe Senator Softcore is on that list. My guess is he just skimmed it and signed on without reading. Corker, I can't figure him out either.

[lamp_shade]

4. It's not the "holds" themselves that she's fighting; it's the "secrecy". She wants to know WHO is

placing the hold and their reason for doing so.

[depakid]

5. Which is what makes this such an uphill battle in the House of Lords

[TacticalPeek]

6. Heh.

House of Lords - got that right.

[karynnj]

7. If she gets one more, can Reid add his name even if it is addressed to him?