Blog - Senate Dems Unveil Their Filibuster Reforms

“Right to Amend: Guarantees Consideration of Amendments for both Majority and Minority
Protects the rights of the minority to offer amendments following cloture filing, provided the amendments are germane and have been filed in a timely manner”

this is awesome, there would have been a tier 5 unemployment extension passed last year had this rule been in place(that is assuming that stabenow would have still brought the bill to the floor knowing that the republicans could have added a provision t the bill to pay for it.)

great reporting Mr. Shaw,

That’s great to see. Though I’d be curious how the “Right to Amend” works in practice. It seems like there could be a fine line to deciding if something is relevant. And I wonder if submitting amendments might be used to try to slow down the process. Though the paper trail involved there might help stop that.

So what I would like to know is why didn’t the Dems do this earlier if it is so important? They had total majority in both houses, why NOW that Republicans have the house do they “suddenly” introduce this reform package.

Actually, it was introduced first in 1995 when the Dems were in the Minority. Senator Harkin from Iowa introduced the same resolution with the same stipulations. Go to C-span, read the transcripts of what was said or even better watch the video. The Debate that happened on the floor yesterday was, for all intents and purposes, a miracle. There was actual dialogue back and forth, not an empty room with long Quorum calls.

Good news. It doesn’t matter what party they represent, a filibuster should be a big deal, requiring some sweat and political risk. It shouldn’t be quietly declared with the senator’s butt still planted in his desk chair.

I think the time has come for this to occur. It does not matter where one is on the political spectrum. This is a step in the direction of accountability. And is a much needed reform left over from the days when senators were elected by state legislatures. Although it has been changed significantly over the years. I do think that the end of stalling tactics needs to occur.

As long as filibuster is still legal, it will still be used to stop things.

Making people speak “on topic” and preventing them from filibustering in secret will not stop a minority party from stalling legislation they oppose. That is, after all, the point of the filibuster in the first place.

I don’t think it’s necessary to stop the minority from stalling legislation, but it shouldn’t be too easy, either. It’s become too easy to stop/stall legislation using the filibuster; as a result, it’s been used way too often, bogging down all of the senate’s work.

Filibuster reform is long overdue, and I’m excited by this latest push. Thanks for keeping us apprised of the latest news, Donny. Can you give us an update on where the rules change is in the process, particularly with an eye to Biden’s role and the opposition’s strategy?

I encourage anyone reading this to stop and go to c-span.org and watch the video of the debate that took place over this resolution. That is the Senate that we need. That is the type of Senate that takes the time to deliberate and debate, but takes swift action when it is needed.