Filibuster fight may threaten accord on avoiding fiscal cliff

[jimmy olsen]

Good, filibuster has been abused to much lately.

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/26/15462105-filibuster-fight-may-threaten-accord-on-avoiding-fiscal-cliff?lite

Filibuster fight may threaten accord on avoiding fiscal cliff
By Tom Curry, NBC News national affairs writer

In a clash on the Senate floor Monday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said that Majority Leader Harry Reid's planned move to change the Senate filibuster rule could jeopardize chances of reaching a deal on avoiding tax hikes and spending cuts at the end of the year.

"We have huge issues before us here at the end of the year, much of which will probably carry over into next year," McConnell said in a debate with Reid that lasted nearly 30 minutes. "It's a time that we ought to building collegiality and relationships and not making incendiary moves that are damaging to the institution and could have serious ramifications on our ability to work together here at the end of the year."

Reid called his proposed rule change "minor" and an attempt to make the Senate "more efficient" – but McConnell vehemently disputed that. "This is no small matter, this is a big issue about the future of this country and how this institution ought to be operated," the Kentucky Republican said.

McConnell accused his Democratic counterpart of intending to "break the rules of the Senate in order to change the rules of the Senate."

He pointed out that under the current Senate rules it takes 67 senators to enact a rule change.

But Reid may move in January as soon as the Senate convenes for the new session of Congress to change the rules by a simple majority vote.

McConnell said Reid had used his power under the Senate rules to prevent Republican senators from offering amendments on proposed bills.

"He alone, out of 100 of us, gets to decide who gets to offer an amendment," McConnell complained. "In other words he gets to pick our amendments for us."

Therefore, McConnell said, the Republicans had responded by slowing or blocking debate through filibusters.

If Reid wants to defeat filibusters, McConnell suggested, he should "use the fatigue factor to grind down opposition" by forcing senators who were filibustering motions or bills to stay on the Senate floor and keep speaking.

But Reid said that "to the average American, these reforms are just common sense... America believes Congress is broken. Once again the only ones who disagree are Mitch McConnell and Republicans in Congress."

He added later, "As I've traveled this country, people said, 'Do something to change the Senate so we can get things done.'"

[CountDeMoney]

"We have huge issues before us here at the end of the year, much of which will probably carry over into next year," McConnell said in a debate with Reid that lasted nearly 30 minutes. "It's a time that we ought to building collegiality and relationships and not making incendiary moves that are damaging to the institution and could have serious ramifications on our ability to work together here at the end of the year."

LOL, like threatening to use the filibuster, Mr. Human-Turtle Hybrid?

[DontSayBanana]

LOL, like threatening to use the filibuster, Mr. Human-Turtle Hybrid?

Seriously.  I mean, it's not like the filibuster has been one of the biggest obstacles to "collegiality and relationships" in the US Senate since Bush took office...

[garbon]

But Reid said that "to the average American, these reforms are just common sense... America believes Congress is broken. Once again the only ones who disagree are Mitch McConnell and Republicans in Congress."

So I'm guess Reid doesn't count the constituents who continue to elect these Republicans to Congress as average Americans?

[CountDeMoney]

So I'm guess Reid doesn't count the constituents who continue to elect these Republicans to Congress as average Americans?

They are obviously very silly people.

[Admiral Yi]

You guys would be croaking your heads off if it were a GOP simple majority suggesting a change in the filibuster rule. 

Really don't know why Harry is picking this fight right at this moment.  He still needs the House to pass legislation.

[DontSayBanana]

They are obviously very silly people.

That's a given.  I'm starting to get rather annoyed with this "if they don't like it, vote them out" mentality.  It's not like a vote can comment that specifically on all aspects of a politicians use or misuse of the system.  I mean, it's not like we're loaded with red-blue ideologues who'll vote for anybody from their own party simply because they "have to be better" than the other guy.

Show me a ringing endorsement of the way both parties have been abusing the filibuster, and I'll eat my words.

[derspiess]

Really don't know why Harry is picking this fight right at this moment.  He still needs the House to pass legislation.

Probably an aggressive move to protect his Cowboy Poetry Festival

[jimmy olsen]

"We have huge issues before us here at the end of the year, much of which will probably carry over into next year," McConnell said in a debate with Reid that lasted nearly 30 minutes. "It's a time that we ought to building collegiality and relationships and not making incendiary moves that are damaging to the institution and could have serious ramifications on our ability to work together here at the end of the year."

LOL, like threatening to use the filibuster, Mr. Human-Turtle Hybrid?

Is this CdM original, or have I missed a meme?

[jimmy olsen]

You guys would be croaking your heads off if it were a GOP simple majority suggesting a change in the filibuster rule. 

Really don't know why Harry is picking this fight right at this moment.  He still needs the House to pass legislation.

Nope, I've been consistent on this issue.

They should do it too.

[Razgovory]

You guys would be croaking your heads off if it were a GOP simple majority suggesting a change in the filibuster rule. 

Really don't know why Harry is picking this fight right at this moment.  He still needs the House to pass legislation.

You seemed to be cool with back in 2005.  This Romney loss seems to have hit you hard.

[Admiral Yi]

ossum

[Razgovory]

That's usually the phrase you use when I say something you didn't want to hear.  How about this, "You positions have been entirely consistent and satisfactory, and you've taken the loss Romney and the bets you made related to the 2012 race with tremendous grace".

[DGuller]

 

[Razgovory]

Bleed out of your eyes at someone else young man.