Republicans Threaten To ‘Shut Down The Senate’ If Reid Pursues Filibuster Reform

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Republicans Threaten To ‘Shut Down The Senate’ If Reid Pursues Filibuster Reform

November 26th, 2012 3:02 pm Henry Decker

In response to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s plan to reform the rules governing filibusters, Senate Republicans are threatening the highly ironic revenge of “[shutting] down the Senate.”

Manu Raju reports in Politico that Reid is considering a ban on the use of filibusters on “motions to proceed,” the process through which debate begins in the Senate. Reid also may reinstitute rules requiring filibustering senators to take the Senate floor and carry out a nonstop talking session (as in the famous movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.)

In order to change these rules, Raju reports that Reid may invoke the so-called “nuclear option,” using an obscure rule to change the Senate rules with just a 51-vote majority instead of the usual two-thirds. The Republican response has been furious:

Republicans are threatening even greater retaliation if Reid uses a move rarely used by Senate majorities: changing the chamber’s precedent by 51 votes, rather than the usual 67 votes it takes to overhaul the rules.

“I think the backlash will be severe,” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), the conservative firebrand, said sternly. “If you take away minority rights, which is what you’re doing because you’re an ineffective leader, you’ll destroy the place. And if you destroy the place, we’ll do what we have to do to fight back.”

“It will shut down the Senate,” the incoming Senate GOP whip, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, told POLITICO. “It’s such an abuse of power.”

There are two major problems with the Republican response: first, Reid’s proposal would not threaten “minority rights” as Coburn asserts. Senators would still be allowed to filibuster after the debate begins, and — as long as they’re willing to stay on the floor and keep talking — they would still be allowed to indefinitely delay a vote unless stopped by a 60-vote majority.

Second, threatening to “shut down the Senate” is a perfect example of why filibuster reform is needed in the first place. Since Democrats claimed their Senate majority in 2007, they have had to overcome over 380 filibusters, more than at any other point in history. As Minority Leader Mitch McConnell famously explained, Senate Republicans’ only goal over the past four years has been blocking President Obama’s agenda, and to do so they have brought the Senate to a near-complete standstill by requiring a 60-vote supermajority to pass any legislation.

So John Cornyn’s threat that Senate Republicans will suddenly stop cooperating with Democrats and block any progress in the Senate shouldn’t concern Reid very much. After all, it would be nothing he hasn’t seen before.

Photo credit: UNLV Photo Services/Geri Kodey

Tags: filibuster reform, Harry Reid, John Cornyn, Senate, Tom Coburn

TZToronto

Look at the two words–majority and minority. If you have a majority, you are allowed to use it. The minority, by definition, doesn’t have enough votes on its own to stop you. I say go for it, Harry! Make these lazy Republicans stand up and speak about what they believe and want. Force them to expose their prejudices and anti-middle class intentions. Give them the opportunity to tell everyone how hard done by the super-rich really are. That’ll get a lot of support, I’m sure. If the Republicans are so sure of their position, they should be happy to change the rules so that, starting in 2015, they’ll be able to do to the Democrats what the Democrats did to them. Could it be that they aren’t so sure that everybody is going to jump on their protect-the-rich bandwagon?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_W5CBZAUVKH5OBMPRV3S33UTOII absolute truth

Harry Reid and Senate Dems: Go for it baby !!!! Push the envelope on the filthy obstructionist minority repubs. Force the repubs hand; let them ‘shut’ the senate down. Then the entire US public will see who is and what these treasonous filthy fascists true agenda is – to destroy the US from within. Go for it Harry. Force those red pigs to bring the roof down. Yeeeehaaaaaa !!!

http://www.facebook.com/people/Merl-Allen/695715159 Merl Allen

that’s what we want them to do, what they will do is cave in like always. i hate the democrats only slightly less than i hate repubs

Michael Kollmorgen

Heh, yea, every time the Dems do have real power, they screw it up somehow. We’re a very diverse party. We can’t hold anything together for voting on the real issues.

At least, for the most part, Republicans can hold their membership together.

And, I’m a lifelong registered Democrat saying that:(

http://www.facebook.com/people/Don-Ramsey/100001577804530 Don Ramsey

Damn, Michael. You and Merl must be a real joy to have around. Pass the Zoloft!

Michael Kollmorgen

You don’t have to believe me. Just look at the last Congress when the Dems HAD a Super Majority.

The Dems couldn’t hold power – as usual.

Zoloft? Feed it to the Republicans. They need it a lot more:)
RudyBlue

The Dems had a super majority a little less than 3 months. Do you remember who died, causing the dems to lose a long time Democratic seat? Research, Michael. Please. Otherwise, you’re just adding to the confusion that is the Republican party.

tmchugh227

The only reason that they can hold their “membership” together is that they are all too pigheaded to do anything good for the working class American and they all think alike…those that don’t are defecting.

roseviolet

Geez, the Republicans still don’t get it do they? And they’ve apparently ALSO forgotten history. What Sen. Reid is proposing is akin to what filibusters started as – in the beginning you HAD to stand on the Senate floor and talk until blue in the face, effectively until either you couldn’t talk any longer or your opposition had decided to give up on waiting you out. Coburn and the rest of the spoiled brats could, as a result, STILL filibuster – they’d just have to get their spoiled lazy butts into the Senate to do it. They’d no longer be able to namelessly, effortlessly do so – which never should have been allowed to happen in the first place. Allowing it to happen isn’t “minority rights”, it’s minority TYRANNY. It allows petty tyrants like Coburn and his cohorts who decide that their idea of compromise is stuck at “I’m going to take my ball and go home, if you’re not going to play EXACTLY by my rules on EVERYTHING and AT ALL TIMES” to hold everything hostage, any time they’re the least bit unhappy – about anything or anyone.
nobsartist

DO IT! We want REID to use the nuclear option every chance he has on everything that he can use it on. He should also start using car bombs and assassinations if necessary.
rustacus21

4get fillibuster reform!!! It’s time to get in the ‘pit’ for hand2hand combat w/these cowards!!! Always threatening! Always trying to intimidate! Ever-ready to try those tired, bullying scare tactics!!! F-them!!!! A legislative punch in the nose? Shut them down by simply refusing to negotiate w/them! PERIOD!!! There’s legislation that MUST go thru to fix the jobs, environmental, education, electoral system, banking & investment (ESPECIALLY the speculators’ criminal enterprise!) systems, as well as fixing the entire nations physical & technological infrastructure & we have no time fooling around w/mentally incompetent CHILDREN!!! It’s time to end this silliness & the only way to do it is by holding conservatives accountable IN PUBLIC!!! We the people are in charge & w/enuff pressure by Liberal/Progressives representatives & the public, we CAN & WILL force CHANGES in policy & PRACTICE of OUR government!!! The rules are fine! It’s the conservatives that have no respect for them. The last 12 years are but a minor example of a 43 year crisis, brought on by that criminal Richard Nixon!!! It’s the fault of Liberal/Progressives that he & ALL subsequent conservative office holders have been able to corrupt our civic governmental enterprise!!! There are plenty of young, energetic, ingenious Liberal/Progressives in this nation who have the answers to this crisis!!! I suggest Reid, Pelosi & the President make it a point finding them, employing them & get down to the business of immunizing our Democracy against conservative criminal entrepreneurship in OUR Liberal/Progressive Democracy!!!

http://www.facebook.com/people/Merl-Allen/695715159 Merl Allen

the bullying tactics work. the dems will cave on this like they do on every damn thing

Budjob

Simple majority,What part of simple majority don’t these semi-literate republican pigs understand?Every organization that ever existed utilizes that concept.It is called DEMOCRACY!!!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7DKWSXHQIDBW5PUAPZ2HZAYYUY Baron Cormac

Wow. Actually telling them they have to stand and talk in order to filibuster. Will wonders never cease. No longer will the threat be tolerated. It will have to be carried out. THEN watch the outcry against Republican Intransigence.

Pi_Boson

How ironic. Make someone accountable for their actions by making them plead their case in front of their contituency on the floor of th US Senate. Accountability!?! That would be something new in the Senate. New rules work for me and probably for the country. After all, Senators are our servants working on our business. They should also eliminate lifetime medical benefits for Congress as that is $ billions in savings annually.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_B6RROC4IUESHT322QS5VJVPYRM Lynda

I’m going to hold my breath until your head explodes is the strategy the GOP is trying to use to freighten the Democrats. Why would anyone be afraid of them today as they’ve already shut down the Senate for the last four years? They’ve already made the Senate a disfunctional body that was their goal from the first day of Obama’s first term, and it remains the only thing they are interested in accomplishing today. Let they hold their breath. Hand them the shovel so they can dig an even deeper hole in which to bury themselves. It is way past time for the Democrats to dismiss the GOP as just another obstruction and get to the business of moving forward. The country does not have time for this childish twaddle and deep down in the GOP investors pockets they realize it as well. Elections have consequences and the consequence now is that McConnell and his ilk are on the losing side of history and more importantly POLICY.
idamag

That is because the present Republicans are not representatives of the people. This is not Democracy when one man can kill or table a vote. I wish the dyed in the wool Republican voters would realize it would help their party if they voted out all the tea partiers and let the Republican Party become healthy again. As it is, the Republican party might become weak and ineffective.

foolsdance

Might? I believe that boat has already sailed.

july860

agreed

http://www.facebook.com/dominick.vila.1 Dominick Vila

Reid is not proposing to eliminate the filibuster, he is proposing to eliminate its use as a tool to consider motions or proposals that deserve deliberation. An example of what is being considered involved the filibuster conducted by Senate Republicans when they refused to even consider the Veterans Jobs Act. Shouldn’t the people that wrap themselves in the flag every time they want to get public support to help the elite show the same consideration when a motion is put on the table to help our returning veterans?

rustacus21

… but this is why I advocate & so should ALL American’s, to leave the rules just as they are!!! There will be times the filibuster ‘MAY’ be necessary, so losing it may be a detriment in the future (should U decide to run for office someday!!!). What the problem is that conservatives don’t respect the rule of law NOR Democracy. Knowing that, why should any1, least of all a Democratic Senate majority & a Democratic President, respect them – AT ALL?! Conservatives are infantile & childish. They need to be treated as such. They have such good ideas, rite? Where are they & why haven’t they worked in 43 years – from Nixon to Bush?! We’re in the process of erasing ‘THAT’ legacy & we’re better off ignoring them & freezing them out of the conversation, making this instead, a dialogue between the nation’s citizens & the Senate majority & the President, since they’re the only adult voices in the entire conversation. 2014 is coming fast & the nation needs to continually stay focused on what’s really important. By keeping this in the public eye, conservatives WILL back down!!! Recall is still an option by the way. Not all of McConnell’s & Boehner’s constituents are as psycho as they after all…

saltyshore

I almost choked when the Rep. used the word minority!!! That is so funny.
I guess they are now able to recognize one…..since the election……and they are all looking for a minority friend to pal around with, like look at me a Rep with my new minority friend…..I care….lolol
William Deutschlander

The Republicans have no use for DEMOCRACY, the Republican Cartel wants Autocracy which is the little brother of Dictatorship !

The country desperately needs to replace the Republican Cartel with a new party, the Peoples Party that will ban any active Republican from membership !
howa4x

Why is it that democrats will always work with a republican president like they did with Reagan, HWB and GWB, for the good of the country, and republicans won’t. I support Reid since we have too many issues to solve and can’t afford to have 1 senator just say he will fillibuster to stop all debate. So what is the republican threat, that they won’t work with democrats on any legislation? Have they worked on any? Now is the time for Reid to go to the mat and stop being seen as a meek majority leader. Obama won over all the obstafication that the senate and house threw at him. The republicans in the senate better wake up. People are tired of gridlock and want to see action on issues. Make these old white men get up there and fillibuster. That should be interesting.
http://profile.yahoo.com/NPJLVBZ26RIVHXWGLIEW6NJ7QA Fran

Harry Reid is one of the most intelligent men I have ever heard…he gives those republicans “Hell”…just like Harry S. Truman…said at one time…he don’t play their games..I just wish…that we won more of the House than we did…look at the way the republicans manipulated the voting in FLA…but, those people were determined to vote…and again..look at the underhanded scheme that Bush used…there when he won the state..I wish they would take most of those republicans…not the good ones like Christie..and put them in a pile and let burn to ashes..they make me so sick to my stomach…it isn’t even funny…Harry Reid…should have been the “Speaker Of The House”…wowowowo
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dianne-Lee/100000857981424 Dianne Lee

The heck with the idea of requiring them to stand there the whole time and talk. Makes a good movie, but a bad government. If the majority will vote for a bill, that bill should pass without a lot of nonsense. If the majority votes it down, ditto. That’s how Democracy is supposed to work, and failure to follow that system is the reason why, in the Senate, Democracy isn’t working.
elw

Minority rights, are they kidding? If they actually do it, they will only hurt themselves more than they already are. Have they no memory of what happen the last time they tried to shut government down? OH, I forgot, they like to erase history.
http://www.facebook.com/cnminter Nancy Minter

If they want to filibuster they should have to actually do the deed. Change the rules and if you can use the existing rules to make it possible to do with a simple majority DO IT!
jstsyn

Reid must do it. As said, what difference will it make when they block all they can anyway. It is time to block republicans like they have blocked the Senate and President Obama for the last four years. Any party that ignores its pledge to the American people by pledging to an outsider like Grover should be run out of Congress by any means. Any party making their one and only goal to block anything from the President should be run out of Congress. The republican scourge must be stopped, Americans have said they are sick and tired of republicans and their whacked agenda.

oudiva

Indeed. My question is, “Who made Grover Norquist king of the Republican party?”

grammyjill

If you put that idiots name in your subject line for a search, you will find a petition to stop old Grover. Almost a thousand signatures so far.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Myers/100001512942781 Jim Myers

Replying to grammyjill -

You need to put the word STOP before Grover Norquist.

Otherwise, all you get is the Right wing hogwash.

grammyjill

I didn’t put the stop in but found it anyway. I was looking for his email address so I could write him posion pen letters. This was just as good though.

http://profile.yahoo.com/RGOUPZ3JYNMPBVOHLZRCRVRD6Q ivory69690

In response to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s plan to reform the rules governing filibusters, Senate Republicans are threatening the highly ironic revenge of “[shutting] down the Senate.”/// go ahead you GOP DING DONGS then in 2014 the ppl. will vote asa many as up for elaction and buy the thing MRS.Clinton wins the house that election the rest of you GOP DING DONGS WILL BE GONE. then maybe by then the country can move forward . and it will be every one paying their fair share of a % for taxes . even the greedy bastards2 %. there still crying you cant make the greedy bastards pay a fair share of a % because thy are the ones that make the jobs . HELLOOOOO ding dongs if you was making the jobs like you say you do then you could still be screwing the country . but beinmg so rich and being such greedy bastards you dont see whats in front of you . so stupid . if i was one of the greedy bastards 2% the first thing id do would get together with all my greedy bastard buddys and tell them . whats wrong with all of you ? are you stupid? if we just keep the jobs and making sure there are alot of jobs for every one then that would take the eyes off of us greedy bastards 2 % from screwing the country in taxes . its too simply and thy are simply stupid to see it
http://profile.yahoo.com/RGOUPZ3JYNMPBVOHLZRCRVRD6Q ivory69690

“I think the backlash will be severe,” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), the conservative firebrand, said sternly. “If you take away minority rights, which is what you’re doing because you’re an ineffective leader, you’ll destroy the place. And if you destroy the place/// better to destroy that place then do what the GOP is doing . destroying and screwing the whole country. all but the greedy bastards 2 %.
arch725

Shut the Republicans DOWN!!!!!!!!!
http://profile.yahoo.com/RGOUPZ3JYNMPBVOHLZRCRVRD6Q ivory69690

“It will shut down the Senate,” the incoming Senate GOP whip, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, told POLITICO. “It’s such an abuse of power.”//// hmmmmm now that your talking about abuse of power . would that be anything like what ther GOP DING DONGS do with there useless party of NOOOOO ? and the party of NOO GOP DING DONG,S that already made the country have its credit rateing droped for the first time i belive . who,s truly abuseing the power ? and who are thy abuseing their power for ? the anwser,s are the GOP DING DONGS for abuseing power and the greedy bastards 2 % the GOP DING DONGS are doing it for . thy are there in office like bags of chit doing nothing for the ppl or the country . just for the very few thy seem to work for . the IRS should be checking their bank accounts . to see how much money the croch brothers are putting in them . ooooh maybe thy are filling up their off shore accounts . like the ANTI-CHRIST ROMNEY DOSE . well GOP DING DONGS id make sure youir names are on the off shore accounts. for the greedy bastards wouldnt think twich about screwing you like thy do and try to do to the country
http://profile.yahoo.com/RGOUPZ3JYNMPBVOHLZRCRVRD6Q ivory69690

Second, threatening to “shut down the Senate” is a perfect example of why filibuster reform is needed in the first place. Since Democrats claimed their Senate majority in 2007, they have had to overcome over 380 filibusters, more than at any other point in history. As Minority Leader Mitch McConnell famously explained, Senate Republicans’ only goal over the past four years has been blocking President Obama’s agenda, and to do so they have brought the Senate to a near-complete standstill by requiring a 60-vote supermajority to pass any legislation./// maybe its time for some one to stop that white dress wearing clown with the hood on it that burns crosses in the feilds in his spare time.(Mitch McConnell ) stop him at all cost . have the same feeling he had when he said the Pres. wouldnt get a 2nd term. well you messed that one up you hateing POS all cost stop the evil hateing POS maybe a 9mm ya ya that should work fine and the only ones that will miss that POS will be only 2 % of the country . sounds like a cool deal to me . then the country would win all the ppl and the country . all but 2 % anyways .
http://profile.yahoo.com/RGOUPZ3JYNMPBVOHLZRCRVRD6Q ivory69690

So John Cornyn’s threat that Senate Republicans will suddenly stop cooperating with Democrats and block any progress in the Senate shouldn’t concern Reid very much. After all, it would be nothing he hasn’t seen before//// hey JOHNY GIRL you should go out for SNL thy need a joker like you . what are you talking about air head ( Republicans will suddenly stop cooperating with Democrats and block any progress) what do you think you been doing with your dress wearing clown with the hood on it been doing ? your saying something that the DEMS are use to you doing ( NOTHING BUT BLOCKING ANYWAYS) what esle would be new? that your same old game . and the ppl. are seeing it and you do that air head and when you next vote comes up for ur sit you will be gone .
http://profile.yahoo.com/ES2UMKTR4CDLPP22JNGQN3Z7SE Jackmack

it looks like the Republicans are back to their old ways again I guess they have not learned their lesson
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1343058587 Mildred Ortega Calderon

So sick of republicans.
http://profile.yahoo.com/HJIWONQOW4EAYMCA4QH2DDJMBU MARK

Is there any legal way to do away with republicans?

rustacus21

ABSOLUTELY!!! Make sure Civic’s courses are included & required studies in our PUBLIC SCHOOLS, so we have increasing generations of Americans that UNDERSTANDS Democracy & its mechanics. & while we’re at it, end wealthy-only tax cuts so there will be no more pay-off money going to lobbyists who promote wealthy-only opportunities & benefits, that create the hell of the poor, seniors & the Middle Class, who are the only American tax payers paying the nation’s bills!!! In other words, unemployment will be for the truly useless (lobbyists & ex-conservative office holders). This is message the Senate majority needs to carry to the citizenry & what the citizenry needs to carry to the polls in 2014!!! But the short answer is: impeach them if they continue this filibuster nonsense &/or VOTE THEM OUT in 2014!!!

http://www.facebook.com/bobtardif Robert Tardif

…and, let’s make sure the filibuster is televised! Americans, voters, should see and hear what the GOP is doing to advance the interests of our country! We will be able to witness the governing strategies of the run-of-the-mill conservative Republicans, the Tea Party Republicans (all of them are Republicans), and the other Republicans without enough gumption to abandon filibusters as the only strategy of the GOP. Absolutely, give the GOP a chance to show themselves as the party of the rich and for the rich. Yes, let’s televise the suicide of the GOP!
http://www.facebook.com/bobtardif Robert Tardif

Party-cide!

…and, let’s make sure the filibuster is televised! Americans, voters, should see and hear what the GOP is doing to advance the interests of our country! We will be able to witness the governing strategies of the run-of-the-mill conservative Republicans, the Tea Party Republicans (all of them are Republicans), and the other Republicans without enough gumption to abandon filibusters as the only strategy of the GOP. Absolutely, give the GOP a chance to show themselves as the party of the rich and for the rich. Yes, let’s televise the suicide of the GOP!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Diane-Eliz-Cushing/1567587548 Diane Eliz Cushing

This is long over due. Harry Reid is my hero. The Republican tantrum continues, they huff and they puff and try to blow the Senate down..
docb

More reason to make Dems to stand up and be counted! ..The repubs are COWARDS and nasty cowards at that..Call your senators at the local offices and at the DC numbers

1,866…220.0044

1.866.311.3405
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kenneth-Heffley/100002250740914 Kenneth Heffley

Senator Reid do it to them like they did to the middle and poor, burn their behinds like never before, the people are behind you just like we are behind Susan Rice and this is a middle class 73 year old that has not been affected by whats going on but i do see it comming if we don’t stop these rich BSTRDS first. That includes durbin who i voted for when i lived in Il.
onedonewong

Reid whined when Republicans threatened to do that in 2002, it was Reid that called it the “nuclear option”. If Reid who hasn’t been able to pass a budget in 6 years decides to go forward than Republicans should fill free to shut the Senate down

Sierra111

And we all know why Reid had trouble with the budget – the Republicans’ bull-headed behavior!

onedonewong

Yea seeing as how the Dem’s had a filibuster proof majority in 2009-2010 but hey 60 votes must have been W’s fault

PeedroPaula

That piece of fiction has been soundly debunked repeatedly.

onedonewong

Soundly Debunked ??? On what planet??? A simple gooogle search will provide you with the House and Senate make up in 2007 thru 2010.
Surely your not that dumb

http://profile.yahoo.com/JCDYOUQPDL6RBF2WIQY7IHJ4BM batavier

Sen. Cornyn’s comments regarding “withholding any cooperation with the Democrats, if….”, reveals the true character of the GOP: a bullying, cowardly faction!
OUT WITH THE LOT
Sierra111

Dear Republicans: Your days in the Senate are numbered and every time you do something like this the time gets closer.
ORAXX

Mitch McConnell and Co. will never pass up an opportunity to behave like petulant adolescents.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Myers/100001512942781 Jim Myers

I find it interesting that they are worried about MINORITY RIGHTS.

These are the same people who try to increase voter suppression, limit the ability of minorities to vote, look down their noses at female voters and their needs, try to repress anyone who is not a “CHRISTIAN”, (although, they distort nearly everything Christ ever taught), attempt to make “Liberals” and “Progressives” look like criminals, etc.

Can you explain to me again how MINORITY RIGHTS are on their agenda?

PeedroPaula

Majority rights are important only when the GOTP is in the minority.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=621836715 Kevin Schmidt

Someone call the WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAbulance!
The Republicans are completely powerless in the Senate, and the Democrats know it!
http://www.facebook.com/david.loucas.1 David Loucas

Do it! McConnell has been a treasonous obstructionist for the President’s first administration. Anyuthing he does for further obstruct the proper running of the Senate will be met with even greater voter retribution. It’s about time we sent those piggies a lession that will not soon forget. I’ve go two words for McConnell and the second word is McConnell.
http://profile.yahoo.com/H2RYK7EC3VPEM7DBXCKSJAQXIA Andrew

make them stand up and talk for………..ever………………….
http://profile.yahoo.com/H2RYK7EC3VPEM7DBXCKSJAQXIA Andrew

make them send a scapegoat who will lose next time if he knows that…lol………………..to talk for 96 hours if he can…………DO IT…………………blow mcconell up…………….lets see if mcconell is willing to do this…………..it is OUR country……..not yours mitch……………..
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TJNSZD4HIXUCOAKXMQZCIUST34 JOEL K

Senator Reid where is the budget for 2010, 2011, 2012? You want to increase taxes than provide a budget.
How did the Republicans get elected to office? Those who voted for the Republicans expect them not to support Obama and his program.
What will you do when the tide turns and you are the minority in the senate??
Look at the House of Rep. It changed to Republicans.
Think about it.

PeedroPaula

Don’t worry. If Republicans continue to obstruct progress as they have for the last four years, the House, too, will be Democrat-controlled in 2014.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Peg-Robinson/1037791957 Peg Robinson

(Shrug) The SOBs have *already* shut down the Senate. So, sure. Go for it, Harry.
urgello

go., go., republicans
Ida Bill

If our country is going to move FORWARD and carry out democratic principles, we must take steps to stop those who do not represent the people! We must continue to speak out and support Harry Reid, who should have moved earlier to get this done!

As we go around the world promoting democracy, people are noticing the brand of democracy we have here in the United States! It is not all Republicans, but “silence gives consent.” Speak-up now or forever hold your Peace!
atc333

Keep the Filibuster, but just reinstate the requirement that the filibustering party must keep talking if they want to filibuster legislation. The concept that one individual can simply announce they are filibustering a bill, with no further obligation or requirement on their part and the bill stalls, is simply absurd.

highpckts

I say if a Repub wants to filibuster then let Mitch or Boehner do the talking on the floor! Lets see how long winded they really are!!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001466476730 Heriberto R Montalvo

One more cave in from the demo and I’m going to re-resgister independant
Kansan

Help me out here.

Wasn’t it the “R”s who threatened the “nuclear option” about seven years ago? Didn’t it take a small bipartisan group to defuse the situation?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3WBTMJTJTKZB7YBPNMMPWMV5TI Minell

That is very good to know. All tea parties make $1,000,000,.00 don’t they. there is no unemployment in their district , no medicare, food stamps, nursing homes, meals on wheels or high school drop outs. No problem, right.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4HKCTSVHCQJCJUU2VYCERLWWDE Richie T

Filibusters,
Jerking us around for weeks,.
That’s why they want to keep it, so they can shut down the Senate anytime they want to.
Nov 4 2014 Mid-term
21 Democrats, 10 Republicans up for Reelection.

Percentage of eligible voters that bothered to vote..
2000 54,2%
2004 60.4%
2008 62.3 %
2012 57.7%

2010 Mid Term 41.0 % of eligible voters bothered to vote
2010 New members,
60% Senate, worth ~$3.96 million
40% House ~$57,418.
Currently, 14 members of Congress have been in office for more then 36 years

Look up the numbers,
None of them are their fault.
gloriay

Wish that there was a law that would suspend the salary of Congress when they fail to produce and when they do this type of partisan one sided foolishness.

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Republicans Threaten To ‘Shut Down The Senate’ If Reid Pursues Filibuster Reform

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