Filibuster Reform: Toward a more Progressive and Democratic Senate with Jeff Merkley and Tom Udall

by: Zappatero

Fri Dec 07, 2012 at 12:47:18 PM MST

The full package of reforms Merkley laid out yesterday add up to a very serious proposal that would curb many of the current minority's worst abuses of the Senate rules, remove most of the blockade facing judicial and executive branch nominees, and transfer some of the pain of filibustering onto the people responsible for the filibuster. (Hey Republicans, that's called "personal resonsibility". - z)

And Merkley appeared quite optimistic that filibuster reform will pass this year.

Two years ago, a package that included several of Merkley's proposals received 44 of the 51 votes necessary to amend the Senate rules at the opening of a new Senate. That time, Merkley explains, "we didn't have the support of leadership." Merkley explains. This time, however, the most powerful man in the Senate has already taken to the floor to apologize for opposing Merkley's first effort, and Merkley and the Senate leadership are working together closely to design the final package.

I urge you to read the whole thing and call our senators if you endorse these common sense changes that will make our United States Senate more Democratic - under any definition of the word - for All.