Nearly 15 years ago, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Joe Lieberman presented a plan to eliminate the Senate filibuster and allow Congress to pass
bills by majority rule. The bill failed miserably, 76 to 19.
About a month ago, the progressive Iowan signaled his interest in trying again. In about 20 minutes, Harkin and his new co-sponsor will kick off a new
effort to allow the legislative branch of the government to function again. A press statement from Harkin's office reads:
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will be joined by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) at a press conference this afternoon following the introduction of their
bill to reform Senate rules that have been abused by the minority to create record gridlock. Senator Harkin introduced a similar bill in 1995, when
the Democratic Party was in the minority.
"In an economic climate that has been devastating for Americans, it's time for the Senate to get moving on a jobs bill, on financial regulatory
reform, and on health care," Senator Harkin said. "The minority party has ground Senate business to a halt by abusing the rules, and it's time to
reform the process."
In the 1950s, there was an average of one filibuster per Congress. Last Congress, motions were filed to end filibusters a record 139 times, and they
continue at a similar pace through 2009 (67 cloture motions last year).
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What do you think? Personally I am against this. I am of the opinion that you need more than just a simple majority to pass a bill. I think that
allowing a filibuster is important to our republic, because the threat of a filibuster a way to keep balance in our Senate.
I think that this is a desperate attempt by the left to keep what they have of a majority in power. A majority that they actually have, yet somehow
are impotent to do anything with. Which I don't have to tell you is extremely frustrating. Now with the election of Brown and the loss of the
super-majority, the Democrats once again decide that perhaps changing the rules to suit their needs is the way to go.
Foul play Dems, foul play indeed. I think this new rule if implemented would just lead to abuse by the majority.