Dear Mr. ....... :
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for reforming the use of the filibuster in the 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. 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.
However, I share your concerns over the recent, unprecedented increase in the use of the procedural filibuster. In the first four years of the Obama Administration, there have been 164 cloture votes, more than the total number of cloture votes during both of President Reagan's terms. Debate is at the heart of a deliberative body like the Senate, but virtually everything has been held up by an objection, even routine and historically non-controversial matters.
Senators are sent to Congress to debate legislation and to vote, and I believe legislation that follows regular rules should not be filibustered before it even gets to the Senate floor. If a bill comes out of committee, it should have a chance to be discussed and not have to go through a cloture vote just to begin debate. Please know that I have noted your support for filibuster reform, and I will keep your thoughts in mind as the Senate further considers 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 (202) 224-3841. Best regards.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
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