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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFilibuster Reform Back On The Senate (WH) Agenda?
Talking Points Memo ?@TPMDurbin threatens to revisit filibuster reform: http://bit.ly/XT7KTZ
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) is signaling that Democrats may revisit filibuster reform in the wake of high-profile Republican filibusters including the Chuck Hagel nomination, the plan to avert sequestration and the judicial nomination of Caitlin Halligan.
According to Roll Call, Durbin said the existing rules change agreement doesn't seem to be working.
I hate to suggest this, but if this is an indication of where were headed, we need to revisit the rules again, the Illinois Democrat said. We need to go back to it again. Im sorry to say it because I was hopeful that a bipartisan approach to dealing with these issues would work.
Its the best thing for this chamber, for the people serving here and the history of this institution, Durbin said of the bipartisan arrangement. But if this Caitlin Halligan nomination is an indication of things to come, weve got to revisit the rules.
related:
President Obama Deeply Disappointed By Halligan Filibuster
President Obama issued a statement Wednesday after the Senate failed to reach a required 60 vote threshold on the nomination of Caitlin Halligan to the U.S. Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia:
I am deeply disappointed that despite support from a majority of the United States Senate, a minority of Senators continues to block the nomination of Caitlin Halligan to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Nearly two and a half years after being nominated, Ms. Halligan continues to wait for a simple up-or-down vote. In the past, filibusters of judicial nominations required extraordinary circumstances, and a Republican Senator who was part of this agreement articulated that only an ethics or qualification issue not ideology would qualify. Ms. Halligan has always practiced law with the highest ethical ideals, and her qualifications are beyond question. Furthermore, her career in public service and as a law enforcement lawyer, serving the citizens of New York, is well within the mainstream.
Todays vote continues the Republican pattern of obstruction. My judicial nominees wait more than three times as long on the Senate floor to receive a vote than my predecessors nominees. The effects of this obstruction take the heaviest toll on the D.C. Circuit, considered the Nations second-highest court, which now has only seven active judges and four vacancies. Until last month, for more than forty years, the court has always had at least eight active judges and as many as twelve. A majority of the Senate agrees that Ms. Halligan is exactly the kind of person who should serve on this court, and I urge Senate Republicans to allow the Senate to express its will and to confirm Ms. Halligan without further delay.
read: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/obama-deeply-disappointed-by-halligan-filibuster
denverbill
(11,489 posts)I'm shocked, utterly shocked.
bigtree
(85,999 posts). . . mind-boggling.
Pararescue
(131 posts)Harry Reid is going to have to live with his bad deal until then.
denverbill
(11,489 posts)madokie
(51,076 posts)Cat killer, remember him?
the dickhead rip-off doctor speaker
my apologies for using the word, none other fits in this case
Pararescue
(131 posts)Thanks.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)All of the rules that create and defend the filibuster are passed by majority vote, and can be rescinded by majority vote, done in the right order. The filibuster is not a law, but a rules agreement. That would of course put paid to the "collegiality" of the Senate, but that died some time ago anyway. If fact, it would be a very Republican-like thing to do to just say fuck you, these are the rules now. They brought it on themselves
Pararescue
(131 posts)but thanks anyway.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)demwing
(16,916 posts)Unless Durbin means to wait for the new Congress in 2014...
bigtree
(85,999 posts)example, a Senator could state, Debate on this matter having
proceeded for x hours, I make the point of order that any further
debate is dilatory and not in order.
Under Senate Rule XX, points of order not referred to the Senate are not debatable except at the sufferance of the Presiding Officer, although debate may generally be had on appeals. If the Presiding Officer sustained the point of order, he would set a new, binding Senate precedent allowing Senators to cut off debate. That, however, would not end the matter.
The minority could (and likely would) appeal the Presiding Officers ruling. In a final step, the majority could move to table the appeal. The tabling motion would be non-debatable and subject to immediate vote.
If a simple majority voted to table the appeal, the Senate would
affirm the Presiding Officers ruling and thus allow Senators to cut
off debate under the terms of the point of order.
http://faculty.washington.edu/jwilker/353/353Assignments/Gold_Gupta_JLPP_article.pdf
bemildred
(90,061 posts)demwing
(16,916 posts)is the day that I'll eat a bug.
bigtree
(85,999 posts)demwing
(16,916 posts)but I'm sadly confident I'll not have to...
bigtree
(85,999 posts)HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)FDA doesn't require zero contaimination, just contamination below certain levels for particular products.
You, and I, have probably eaten very many bug equivalents already.
Did you or do your kids fight over the cherries in fruit cocktail? Some fraction like 1/5 of marichino cherries can contain maggots and still be considered Ok.
http://www.fda.gov/food/guidancecomplianceregulatoryinformation/guidancedocuments/sanitation/ucm056174.htm
demwing
(16,916 posts)You got maggots in my peanut butter!
And you got peanut butter on my maggots!
WHAT?
Two great tastes that taste great together!
riqster
(13,986 posts)ChisolmTrailDem
(9,463 posts)if by some miracle his nuts drop into his sagging sack and he actually gets it accomplished, I will join you in eating a bug.
demwing
(16,916 posts)meal worms in garlic butter sauce...
ChisolmTrailDem
(9,463 posts)Ewwwwww!
BTW, speaking of filibusters, that fucker rand paul just filibustered Brennan nomination.
winter is coming
(11,785 posts)Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)I think he'll be able to twist more arms. Harry is just too docile.