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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDemocrats Plan Challenge to G.O.P.’s Filibuster Use (Personally, I'll believe it when I see it)
If Republicans object, Democrats plan to threaten to use the impasse to change the Senate rules that allow the minority party wide latitude to stymie action.
Through the filibuster and other delaying tactics, Republicans have slowed the confirmation process as the president tries to install the team that will carry him through his second term. But Democrats and their majority leader, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, now say they have reached the point where they believe that the only way to break the logjam is to escalate the fight.
Senator Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon, one of the most outspoken members of his party in calling for new limits on the filibuster, said, Theyve essentially said they are going to disable the executive branch if a minority of the Senate disagrees with or dislikes the president the people elect. He added, Its come into a realm where its just unacceptable because if the executive branch cant function, then the nation cant respond to the big challenges it faces.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/us/politics/democrats-plan-challenge-to-gops-filibuster-use.html?_r=0
Autumn
(45,107 posts)It came to an abrupt dead end.
leeroysphitz
(10,462 posts)I'm not holding my breath.
Richardo
(38,391 posts)Reid. That's all ye need know.
bowens43
(16,064 posts)on point
(2,506 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)... to describe Republican obstructionism.
If they hold true to the principles they've demonstrated in the past, look for the Democrats to fold like a cheap lawn chair.
KharmaTrain
(31,706 posts)...he led the effort to change the filibuster rules in January that, regretfully, was rejected by a majority of Senate Democrats. I have doubts this effort will get much further but I welcome them "escalating the fight"...whatever that means. At least it's not a strongly worded letter...
bobclark86
(1,415 posts)Because that will never come back to bite us in the ass if we ever end up in the minority again...
EC
(12,287 posts)it's not far enough. We know repubs will change it when they get the majority, so it's just Reid being namby pamby again. He won't even do this much I'll bet.