Low-fat filibuster reform?

[marmar]

Published on Thursday, January 24, 2013 by Common Dreams

Mr. Reid Goes to Washington... Makes Backroom Deal for Meager Filibuster Reform
"Talking Filibuster" appears too noble an option for current Senate as compromise expected

- Jon Queally, staff writer


According to reports on negotiations between Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), advocates of strong filibuster reforms that would bring back the "talking filibuster" in the US Senate—made famous in the film "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and which forces Senators to actually speak on the Senate floor to put a hold on legislation they object to—will be disappointed to discover that such a change has been excluded from a deal that could be announced as early as Thursday.

A more "meager" agreement may be reached, but it appears that Reid's threats earlier this week to use the so-called "nuclear option" by setting new rules for the Senate at the outset of the term were more bluster than hard-nosed attempts to get the changes that many say are needed to truly free the Senate from the gridlock of recent years.

Word of the compromise was met with scorn by those pushing for a return of the "talking filibuster" and stronger reforms overall.

Common Cause, a citizens advocacy group in Washington, said if reports of the agreement between Reid and McConnell were true the deal would only continue the Senate’s march toward irrelevance. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/24

[PoliticAverse]

1. Deal apparently has been reached, see this LBN thread for details...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=379178