Fix the Filibuster

Two messages about filibuster reform:

The Senate is broken. Republicans have perverted its rules so that a 60-vote supermajority is needed to pass virtually anything.

Now we have a chance to reform the Senate rules and get it working for the people again. Last month, all 53 Democratic Senators signed a letter saying they supported rules reform that returned the filibuster to its original form, forcing Senators to hold the floor and talk for hours if they want to block legislation.

Call Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid right now and tell him to support rules reform that fixes the filibuster:

202-224-3542

Thank you for everything you do.

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Political Director
Democracy for America

Last year you joined with over 105,000 other members of CREDO in demanding that the Senate fix the filibuster.

And on Tuesday we delivered your petition signature about fixing the filibuster to two of the Senate's biggest champions for rules reform: Sens. Tom Udall of New Mexico and Jeff Merkley of Oregon. They said they'd use the petition signatures to lobby their colleagues on this issue.

In addition, yesterday Sens. Udall and Merkley joined with Sen. Tom Harkin (another longstanding advocate of filibuster reform) in introducing a package of Senate reforms.

While the package doesn't eliminate the filibuster and otherwise falls short of the full reform we would like to see, it represents a step forward. And we need to make sure that the Senate leadership doesn't needlessly further water it down to appease the Republicans.

Tell Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Chuck Schumer to stand strong on filibuster reform in the Senate.

Click here to automatically add your name to the petition.

The filibuster is why health care reform didn't contain a public health care option similar to Medicare; it's why no meaningful climate legislation was passed; why even non-controversial judges were denied confirmation despite a crisis in the judiciary; and why even the bipartisan DREAM Act wasn't even brought to the floor.

With a new Congress comes a chance to change the rules via a simple majority vote. Sens. Udall, Merkley and Harkin have proposed a number of provisions to limit the ability of the Republicans to game the rules and bring the Senate to a grinding halt. Their proposal includes:

1. Making those who filibuster actually stay on the floor and talk, like Jimmy Stewart in the famous scene of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
2. Reducing the opportunities to filibuster
3. Expediting the nominations process for relatively uncontroversial nominees
4. Eliminating secret holds

They have also included a provision that guarantees the Republican minority the right to offer amendments, which avoids a situation the Republicans commonly used as an excuse for their filibusters.

But the Republicans, hoping nobody will recognize the rank hypocrisy of their actions, are feigning outrage that the Democratic majority would have the temerity to challenge what is effectively the Republican minority's ability to veto legislation and nominations.

And critically, they are claiming that the Democrats' attempt to change the rules via a majority vote represents some type of power grab. Never mind the fact that the Republicans used the filibuster so routinely while in the minority that the Senate saw more filibusters in the last four years than the decades between 1920-1980 put together. And pay no attention the Constitution's clear language about the Senate being able to make its own rules.

It's not just progressives who view the status quo as untenable. Recently, ever single senator now in the Democratic caucus signed a letter to Majority Leader Reid attesting to the need to change the rules to end the Republicans' obstructionism.

That means that a majority of the Senate already supports some sort of rules reform and that the Democrats do not need to preemptively cave to Republicans in order to get something passed.

Republicans should be invited to vote with Democrats, but not given the opportunity weaken or defeat the reform package. Rarely do we get to make positive change with a straight majority vote in the Senate. The Democrats should seize this opportunity and act from a position of strength.

Yet the fake consternation from Republicans may cause the Democratic leadership to blink and push for an even more anemic set of reforms than the modest ones put forth by Sens. Udall, Merkley and Harkin. And some of the ever-fearful "moderate" Democrats in the Senate might also waver in the face of this blustering from the Republicans if they do not see strong public support for reform.

We need to send a loud message to Senate Majority Leader Reid and Sen. Schumer, who is leading negotiations with Republicans on this issue, that they can't water down Senate reform just to get some Republican votes.

Tell Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Chuck Schumer to stand strong on filibuster reform in the Senate.

Click here to automatically add your name to the petition.

Thank you for speaking out for Senate reform.

Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets