GOP warns of shutdown over filibuster

[Tx4obama]

GOP warns of shutdown over filibuster

A partisan war is brewing that could bring the government to a screeching halt as early as January — and no, it’s not over the fiscal cliff.

It’s all about the filibuster.

Democrats are threatening to change filibuster rules, in what will surely prompt a furious GOP revolt that could make those rare moments of bipartisan consensus even harder to come by during the next Congress.

Here’s what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is considering: banning filibusters used to prevent debate from even starting and House-Senate conference committees from ever meeting. He also may make filibusters become actual filibusters — to force senators to carry out the nonstop, talkathon sessions.

Republicans are threatening even greater retaliation if Reid uses a move rarely used by Senate majorities: changing the chamber’s precedent by 51 votes, rather than the usual 67 votes it takes to overhaul the rules.

-snip-

Full three page article here: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84195.html?hp=f2

[Rosco T.]

1. Try it jack wipes..

if it's in the constitution/rules, then Harry will do it.

I dare you.

[boingboinh]

32. You do realize as always that at the 11th hour miraculously Repubs/Dems will have a deal, right?

We have gone through this game for decades. Its good cop/bad cop routine. In the end repubz get 80-100% of what they want and democratic leaders proclaim victory for being bipartisan.

[dflprincess]

2. I hope Reid goes through with this

and if the Cons are really so stupid they haven't figured out most Americans are sick of their obstructionist ways, let them bring it all to a screeching halt. It can only help with the 2014 midterms.

[davidpdx]

5. I hope so too

I worry about whether Reid will come up with the 51 Ds to pull it off. It would only take a few defections to drive it into the ditch.

[Rowdyboy]

3. Bring it assholes, bring it. Regardless of party affiliation, people are sick of this shit...

Bring it....Please...

[TeamPooka]

4. Bring. It. On. nt

[Mr.Turnip]

6. They've already shut the Senate down with their fillibusters, what else can they do?

[Texin]

8. They have used the filibuster and cloture rules to shut it down for the past 4 years.

This wouldn't be anything the people aren't familiar with and this threat will only be perceived as business as usual for the rethugs. So let 'em threaten all they want to. Let them rant and rave and rail all they can until they all lose their voices. Virtually nobody will care out here in the hinterlands. They didn't lose all that majority they we were banking on and gloating about being 'inevitable' before the election proved them wrong and even less powerful than they thought they were. This is the tactics of folks who've lost their edge but they're still tryng desperately to maintain their puffed up postures. Bullies all. So turn on them and take 'em on.

As for the Dems, I think they'll be able to come up with at least 51 people who would be solidly behind such a measure. They've been sick and frustrated by the rethugs for more than the last 4 years. In fact, they may be be able to nab a few Indies and rethugs to join in the vote (the rethug votes would only be doing so because they think it may benefit them in the future to do so). I think what the rethugs are doing illustrates brilliantly how worried and edgy they are bout their diminishing power as a political party in the country. I think they're concerned that because they didn't win the Presidency and didn't gain the majority status in the Senate, that demographics are seriously, seriously putting them at a permanent disadvantage with the electorate. This type of overreach is what desperate people - whether they're a collection of party regulars or despots, singular or in aggregate - do when they see their control slipping out of their hands. They start acting like threatened wharf rats. I fully expect them to engage in a pitched battle to keep things under control. That's what they were trying to do with this whole election and they won't stop now. Let's hope they're as unsuccessful in this attempt as they were on November 6.

[NewJeffCT]

7. Didn't Republicans change the Senate rules when they had the majority?

When Clinton was president, the Senate rules were changed by Republicans to require both senators from a state to approve of a judicial nominee from their state. So, if a state had a Democratic & a Republican senator, you'd need the approval of a Republican senator if you wanted to be nominated and sent to the senate judicial committee. However, once Bush got selected, Republicans changed the rules to only needing one senator's approval.

[backscatter712]

9. They're not going to cooperate no matter what we do, so we might as well go nuclear on them. n/t

[Filibuster Harry]

10. Try it GOP. Shutting down government over filibuster rules? That's the strategy -- get the

american people even madder. Hey, how about signing OUR pledge that you won't shut government down?
The water is boiling; the madness continues.

[Third Doctor]

11. Bring it on! GOP!

Obama can climb on Air Force one and castigate you on this too,

[annabanana]

12. Oh big friggen Whoop!

They've already cranked the constipation up to 11..

What the hell else can they do?

[libdem4life]

13. GOP Warns of Shutdown Over (fill in the blank.)

Time to see some heel marks on this one, hopefully.

[union_maid]

14. Yes, bring it on!

Sometimes you just have to say that. This would be one of those times.

[Jennicut]

15. Cornyn calls it an abuse of power? Hah. What does he think his Repub buddies have been

doing the last 4 years? Holding hands with the Dems and skipping in daisies?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. begging and pleading for bipartisanship

[Proud Liberal Dem]

16. So, they are going to filibuster

any changes to the filibuster?

Seems like that sort of proves the Democrats' point about the Republican's abuse of the filibuster, doesn't it?

[Blue Idaho]

18. Hey Butt Heads...

You have already effectively shut down the Senate with your continued abuse of the filibuster - so how will we know you are doing anything different from your normal day Senate activities?

Traitors.

[xxxsdesdexxx]

19. List of democratic senators for and against filibuster reform

We need a list of democratic senators who are for and against filibuster reform. I emailed my senators, Feinstein and Boxer, and got no response from Boxer. Feinstein's response led me to believe she's more in favor of opposing Filibuster reform or not voting since her response focused on "protecting" the minority.

[hrmjustin]

20. Welcome to DU!

[xxxsdesdexxx]

21. that my fellow Californians call or email Senators Feinstein and Boxer to ask them to support filibu

Hello and thanks for the welcome. I'd like to request that my fellow Californians call or email Senators Feinstein and Boxer to ask them to support filibuster reform.

[hrmjustin]

23. You can also start a post in the CA room.

Just look under the places on the lower left. You can post a link to their offices as well.

[pinto]

22. For clarity, please share Sen. Feinstein's response.

Thanks.

[xxxsdesdexxx]

24. Senator Feinstein's response when I asked her to support filibuster reform

Her response:

Dear Mr. _____:
Thank you for contacting me concerning the use of filibusters in the United States Senate. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

The filibuster is a long-standing Senate practice that allows a Senator unlimited time to speak on the floor of the Senate. Current Senate rules allow for three-fifths of the Senate to vote to invoke cloture to limit consideration of a bill or nomination and break a "procedural filibuster." By providing the minority in the Senate an instrument for extending debate on nominations and bills, the filibuster can serve a vital role in protecting the rights of the minority and encouraging the majority to seek compromise.

In the long history of the Senate, the filibuster has been an important tool for both parties when in the minority. For example, in December 21, 2005, Democrats in the Senate, using a procedural filibuster, blocked an amendment to a defense reauthorization bill which would have allowed oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), some of our nation's most precious wilderness.

I share your concerns over the recent, unprecedented increase in the use of the filibuster. Debate is at the heart of a deliberate body like the Senate; however, in the 111th Congress, legislative action was subjected to extraordinary levels of obstruction by the minority party. According to the Congressional Research Service, the Senate voted on cloture on a motion to proceed 64 times during the last two Congresses. To be clear, this means that the minority party was obstructing even debating legislation.

You may be interested to know that the Senate has considered a number of bills in the 112th Congress to reform the filibuster process and cut down on the use of delay tactics. S.Res. 29, which was introduced by Senator Mark Udall (D-CO), will waive the reading of an amendment if the amendment has been submitted at least 72 hours before the motion and is available in print or electronic form. The Senate also passed S.Res. 28, introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), to address the practice of secret holds. Secret holds are an informal device which permit a single Senator or any number of Senators to stop floor consideration of measures that are available to be scheduled by the Senate. This new rule will require any Senator objecting to proceeding to a bill or nomination to publicly disclose the objection within two days of the senate being in session.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) also entered into an informal agreement in which Senator McConnell agreed to reduce the use of the filibuster by the minority and in return, Senator Reid agreed to allow more amendments from the minority to be considered on the Senate floor.

Be assured that I share your concerns on the unprecedented use of the filibuster, but I believe that Congress must be cautious about any dramatic changes to the rules. The filibuster serves an integral role in protecting the rights of the minority, which can change from one Congress to the next. Please know that I appreciate your thoughts on this matter and will keep your comments in mind should the Senate further consider the use of the filibuster.

Once again, thank you for writing to me. If you have any additional questions or comments, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C. office at [phone]. Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

[LiberalFighter]

35. Someone needs to have a chat with her on what Reid is proposing

and encourage her to support it. They are minor changes that Democrats should be able to live with if they are ever in the minority again.

[xxxsdesdexxx]

25. List of how the Democratic Senators voted in the 112th congress on Filibuster Reform (S. Res. 10)

Refer to the Senate's Web-site for more information.

Democratic Senators in the 112th Congress who voted in favor of Filibuster Reform (S. Res. 10)

Yes - 44

Akaka (D-HI)
Begich (D-AK)
Bennet (D-CO)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Conrad (D-ND)
Coons (D-DE)
Durbin (D-IL)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Hagan (D-NC)
Harkin (D-IA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Warner (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)


Democratic Senators in the 112th Congress who voted against Filibuster Reform (S. Res. 10)

No - 6

Baucus (D-MT)
Kohl (D-WI)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Webb (D-VA)

Democratic Senators in the 112th Congress who did not vote at all on Filibuster Reform (S. Res. 10)

Did not vote - 3

Feinstein (D-CA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kerry (D-MA)

[Tx4obama]

26. Of the 'no' votes - Kohl and Webb will not be in The Senate next year. ...

... and Reid probably voted no because of senate rules. If something isn't going to pass then Reid votes no in order to be able to bring it back up for a vote in the future.

[Botany]

27. let us filibuster to shut down any all bills that we do not like or we will shut it down ....

.... anyway.

People please remember the meeting on January 20th 2009

During a lengthy discussion, the senior GOP members worked out a plan to repeatedly block Obama over the coming four years to try to ensure he would not be re-elected.

snip

Attending the dinner were House members Eric Cantor, Jeb Hensarling, Pete Hoekstra, Dan Lungren, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ryan and Pete Sessions. From the Senate were Tom Coburn, Bob Corker, Jim DeMint, John Ensign and Jon Kyl. Others present were former House Speaker and future – and failed – presidential candidate Newt Gingrich and the Republican strategist Frank Luntz, who organised the dinner and sent out the invitations.

snip

The Republicans have done that, bringing Washington to a near standstill several times during Obama's first term over debt and other issues.

snip

Draper quotes Gingrich at the end of the meal: "You will remember this day. You'll remember this as the day the seeds of 2012 were sown."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/26/democrats-gop-plot-obstruct-obama

[xxxsdesdexxx]

28. 112th Congress' Vote and the 113th Congress' Vote

No votes from the 112th Congress that are expected to switch to Yes votes in the 113th Congress

No - Brown (R-MA).......... Yes - Warren (D-MA)
No - Kohl (D-WI).......... Yes - Baldwin (D-WI)
No - Lugar (R-IN).......... Yes - Donnelly (D-IN)
No - Reid (D-NV).......... Yes - Reid (D-NV)
No - Snowe (R-ME).......... Yes - King (I-ME)
No - Webb (D-VA).......... Yes - Kaine (D-VA)


Yes votes from the 112th Congress that are expected to switch to a No vote in the 113th Congress

Yes - Nelson (D-NE).......... No - Fischer (R-NE)


This list is for those retiring Democratic Senators who voted Yes in the 112th Congress that will be replaced by someone else who is Likely Yes vote in the 113th Congress.


Yes - Akaka (D-HI).......... Likely Yes - Hirono (D-HI)
Yes - Bingaman (D-NM).......... Likely Yes - Heinrich (D-NM)
Yes - Conrad (D-ND).......... Likely Yes - Heitkamp (D-ND)
Yes - Lieberman (ID-CT).......... Likely Yes - Murphy (D-CT)

Democrats from the 112th Congress who voted No that remain in the 113th Congress

No - Baucus (D-MT)
No - Pryor (D-AR)
No - Reed (D-RI)

Democrats from the 112th Congress that Did not vote and who will be in the 113th Congress

Did not vote - Feinstein (D-CA)
Did not vote - Kerry (D-MA)
Did not vote - Inouye (D-HI)

[Botany]

29. thank you

[xxxsdesdexxx]

30. What we think we have and who we need to call, email, and convince

If we assume that all of the Democratic Senators who remain in the 113th Congress, who voted Yes to reform the filibuster in 112th Congress, will vote Yes. Then we begin with 39 Senators who will vote Yes for filibuster reform in the 113th Congress

Yes in the 112th Congress: 44

Akaka (D-HI)
Begich (D-AK)
Bennet (D-CO)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Conrad (D-ND)
Coons (D-DE)
Durbin (D-IL)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Hagan (D-NC)
Harkin (D-IA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Warner (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR))

Yes in the 112th Congress who will not be in the 113th Congress: 5

Akaka (D-HI)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Conrad (D-ND)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Nelson (D-NE)

44 - 5 = 39

So we start out with 39.

Of those 5 who voted Yes in the 112th Congress that won't be in the 113th Congress, 4 of them will be replaced by Democratic Senators who are Likely Yes votes in the 113th Congress.

Yes - Akaka (D-HI).......... Likely Yes - Hirono (D-HI)
Yes - Bingaman (D-NM).......... Likely Yes - Heinrich (D-NM)
Yes - Conrad (D-ND).......... Likely Yes - Heitkamp (D-ND)
Yes - Lieberman (ID-CT).......... Likely Yes - Murphy (D-CT)

39 + 4 = 43

Those who voted No in the 112th Congress who were replaced by Likely Yes votes in the 113th Congress: 5

No - Brown (R-MA).......... Yes - Warren (D-MA)
No - Kohl (D-WI).......... Yes - Baldwin (D-WI)
No - Lugar (R-IN).......... Yes - Donnelly (D-IN)
No - Snowe (R-ME).......... Yes - King (I-ME)
No - Webb (D-VA).......... Yes - Kaine (D-VA)

43 + 5 = 48

Those who voted No in the 112th Congress who are Likely Yes vote in the 113th Congress: 1

No - Reid (D-NV).......... Yes - Reid (D-NV)

48 + 1 = 49

Democrats from the 112th Congress who voted No that remain in the 113th Congress

No - Baucus (D-MT)
No - Pryor (D-AR)
No - Reed (D-RI)

Democrats from the 112th Congress that Did not vote and who will be in the 113th Congress

Did not vote - Feinstein (D-CA)
Did not vote - Kerry (D-MA)
Did not vote - Inouye (D-HI)

Right now we are probably at 49 (unless one of those Yes votes changes to a No vote). Since we have 55 Democratic Senators (53 Democrats + 2 Independents who caucus with the Democrats) we need 1 of those 6 -- preferably more -- to vote Yes. Not sure why Feinstein (D-CA), Kerry (D-MA), and Inouye (D-HI) did not vote. We need to make the public aware of the importance of Filibuster reform and those who voted for it, those who voted against it, and those who did not vote at all.

[xxxsdesdexxx]

31. If Kerry is the next Secretary of State, when will he be confirmed?

Will it be after the filibuster rules changes scheduled to take place on the first day of the 113th Congress?

[LiberalElite]

33. Sigh. If only they could do something constructive - but then they wouldn't be Republicans eom

[Sunlei]

34. filibuster should mean EVERY member stays in their chair and the speaker filibusts in person.

"may make filibusters become actual filibusters"? may make? thats what a filibuster should BE.

[Akoto]

36. Why not? The filibuster itself has already led to government shutdown.

The Republicans abuse it so freely, there's practically nothing happening. Look at the last term and you'll see how excessive it has become.

Proceed with the changes, and let the Republicans be blamed for whatever retaliation they attempt. We have to alter the rules at some point or the present filibuster rules will continue to stall progress.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

37. BRING. IT. ON. ASS HOLES.

The entire country is sick and tired of them.

[CraigPBell]

38. Spam deleted by uppityperson (MIR Team)

[DCBob]

39. What more can they do that they have not done in the past?

sick bastards dont really care at all about this country... they only want to protect their fat cat donors.