Ezra Klein says Senate Democrats unveil filibuster reforms.
"Here's how the filibuster would change: Motions to proceed can't be filibustered because to do so is filibustering the debate itself. Filibusters themselves have to feature continuous debate and discussion. After a filibuster against a nomination is broken, there will be only two hours of post-cloture debate, as opposed to 30 hours, because nominations don't have amendments that need to be debated.
And there are changes to the Senate rules more broadly, too. Holds can no longer be secret, and the minority gets the right to offer at least three germane amendments on every bill (which addresses the Republican complaint that they are often denied the opportunity to offer amendments).
That's it. What's notable about this reform package is its restraint. "
Kevin Drum mostly agrees with the conclusion, "Overall, then, this is a pretty weak reform package. Items #3 and #4 are worthwhile, but the others are mostly window dressing. The Senate will remain a 60-vote body, but if you can scrounge up those 60 votes then things will move along a bit faster than before. That's about it."
Krugman too.
2 comments:
”Filibusters themselves have to feature continuous debate and discussion”
I hated the prior rule change that allowed for someone to merely vote to filibuster. Essentially allowing someone to say, “I’m calling a filibuster” rather than actually doing the whole “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” marathon.
This might bring the filibuster back to limited-use rather than an overused tool for impeding progress.
I agree, though the issue is, they can hand off the talking. It's much harder to get Strom Thurman to talk for 20 continuous hours than it is to schedule 43 senators to each talk for one. But at least it should be more entertaining. Unless of course there's coverage, in which case we'll hear the GOP story and yet again not have it covered by a Democratic one.
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