Dianne Feinstein: Filibuster Reform Headed In Bipartisan Direction

[Purveyor]

WASHINGTON -- In order to block a Senate rule change in January making the filibuster a more public act, Republicans have been hoping to peel off at least six Democrats, depriving the majority of the 51 votes needed. One of their most promising targets has been veteran Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who has been reluctant to change the rules on a party-line vote because of concerns about what will happen when Democrats are once again in the minority.

But in recent weeks, Feinstein has expressed a willingness to go with the party-line vote. On Sunday, she did so again, even after a bipartisan group of eight senators had put forward a plan on Thursday for much milder filibuster reforms that would leave the current rules in place. On "Fox News Sunday," Feinstein said she's hopeful the bipartisan plan will work out, but she wouldn't rule out the Democrats' going it alone.

"I think there are some changes that can be made on a bipartisan basis," Feinstein said. "I think that's where things are going right now, to see what we can agree upon. If we can't, then the so-called nuclear option comes into play. I'm hopeful that that is not the case, because what comes around goes around."

Pressed on whether she'd support a 51-vote approach -- what opponents call the nuclear option and advocates call the constitutional option -- if the bipartisan deal fell apart, she wouldn't rule it out.

"At this stage, I don't believe it's necessary," Feinstein said, emphasizing at this stage. "I believe we can work something out that both parties can accept."

MORE...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/30/dianne-feinstein-filibuster-reform_n_2384522.html

[Purveyor]

1. Translated...nothing fucking changes with the filibuster rules in the Senate. Spit. eom

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Let's hope the bipartisan deal falls apart and we move to end thhe filibuster

It shouldn't take 60 votes to move legislation and nominees through the Senate. The GOP has abused the filibuster and it's time to put an end to their obstruction.

[aaaaaa5a]

3. Democrats with no spine.

Just wait until she says that with her gun bill. Just wait, its coming!



I'll bet anyone a 100 bucks that if the Senate goes GOP in 2014, they will have no problem implementing this rule.



Sometimes you would never guess which party won the Presidency by 5 million votes, increased its Senate majority to 55 and won 1.5 million more votes in the house.



AMAZING!

[MrSlayer]

5. It isn't that they have no spine.

It's that they have the same agenda as the "other" side.

We need to stop calling complicity weakness.

[davidpdx]

4. The problem with Feinstein is that she's been in the Senate so long

and can fund raise the hell out of anyone that putting a primary opponent against her would difficult. She'll be one of the "good old boys" that dies in office. The Senate shouldn't be the equivalent of a lifetime appointment.

Normally I don't have a problem with her, but this, this pisses me off. She's been sitting on the fence for months. Put her in the no column.

If this goes down, I'll back a primary opponent against any Dem that votes against it. Fuck it.

[bemildred]

6. There are countries all over the planet that get by without the filibuster.

Some of them do better than we seem able to do politically.