Reid Should Reform Filibuster Rules
Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, has so abused the filibuster system in the U.S. Senate, that reform of it has become necessary. We don't know what the exact statistics are, but McConnell uses the filibuster as a matter of course when he doesn't like the least little thing, when historically it was saved for the most crucially important or controversial matters, and thus it has been used during McConnell's leadership extravagantly more than ever in Senate history. To top it off, they don't even have to filibuster with old-fashioned speechmaking for long hours like they used to, all they have to do is make some kind of motion, and it's in place. It's all too convenient and not in accordance with true democracy since it's being abused, now.
Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic Majority Leader, should put a stop to McConnell's cynical games and implement the old-fashioned rules wherein a filibustering senator would have to speak and hold the floor with the possible help of his senatorial allies, if any. Also, the 60 vote threshold to break a filibuster is too high, and that should be reduced to 55 or 55% of the quorum. Some people say that the filibuster should be abolished altogether, but we like the idea that some of the worst legislation in Congress can be slowed down or stopped by the minority, just not to the point that it becomes automatic, wherein the minority effectively has as much power as the majority. Reform not abolishment of the filibuster would be the proper course of action.
[revised on 2/10/2013]
If possible, please, consider contributing to the Party of Commons by sending a check or money order ($10 recommended) to Mark Greene's Party of Commons or $10 to the Director of Elections Campaign that will be on the ballot in 2015 (to Mark Greene for Director of Elections); for either address, write to P.O. Box 612, Bellevue, WA 98009. Thank you!
Mark is probably the only politician in Washington that had the temerity to keep the 2004 election shenanigans in the news as late as 2012 and to call out names. Help us solve the mystery of "The Other Curious Election of 2004" (WA 9th Congressional District U.S. Rep. primary) by contacting real journalists and asking them to look into it. Elections are too important for shams to be ignored and for accountability to be neglected.
Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic Majority Leader, should put a stop to McConnell's cynical games and implement the old-fashioned rules wherein a filibustering senator would have to speak and hold the floor with the possible help of his senatorial allies, if any. Also, the 60 vote threshold to break a filibuster is too high, and that should be reduced to 55 or 55% of the quorum. Some people say that the filibuster should be abolished altogether, but we like the idea that some of the worst legislation in Congress can be slowed down or stopped by the minority, just not to the point that it becomes automatic, wherein the minority effectively has as much power as the majority. Reform not abolishment of the filibuster would be the proper course of action.
[revised on 2/10/2013]
If possible, please, consider contributing to the Party of Commons by sending a check or money order ($10 recommended) to Mark Greene's Party of Commons or $10 to the Director of Elections Campaign that will be on the ballot in 2015 (to Mark Greene for Director of Elections); for either address, write to P.O. Box 612, Bellevue, WA 98009. Thank you!
Mark is probably the only politician in Washington that had the temerity to keep the 2004 election shenanigans in the news as late as 2012 and to call out names. Help us solve the mystery of "The Other Curious Election of 2004" (WA 9th Congressional District U.S. Rep. primary) by contacting real journalists and asking them to look into it. Elections are too important for shams to be ignored and for accountability to be neglected.
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