McCaskill says she has votes to end Senate practice of secret holds

[Ed Barrow]

Source: The Hill

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said Saturday she's secured the votes to force a rules change ending the Senate's practice of secret holds.

McCaskill said on Twitter that she had secured the support of two more senators to give her the 67 votes necessary to change the rules in the Senate to abolish the traditional practice of being able to anonymously hold up nominees to positions requiring Senate confirmation.

Sens. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) were the last two signatories.

McCaskill tweeted Saturday:

First battle won!With Sens Bond and Brownbeck now have 67 Senators on my letter calling for the end to secret holds.Now gotta get a vote.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/104293-mccaskill-says-she-has-votes-to-end-senate-practice-of-secret-holds

[msongs]

1. great! now dump thee filibuster crap next nt

[awoke_in_2003]

6. no, keep the filibuster...

but take it back to the way it used to be- reading phone books or other material for hours on end. Let the public see what some politicians really think about us.

[No Elephants]

17. A roll call vote would do the same, with less waste of time and money.

[pinto]

2. Great news. Hope she pulls it off, gets a vote and holds the vote coalition together.

:thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

[old mark]

3. I would love to see that succeed...she is one of the few very good ones

in congress.

If she ran for president, I'd happily vote for her.

mark

[Sherman A1]

9. She's my Senator

and I wouldn't.

[lyonn]

4. Right On Claire

Why secret? Don't want the Voting Public to know how you really feel Mr/mrs repub? Can't explain yourself? What ever happen to being honest vs cowardly?

[lamp_shade]

5. It should go to the floor for a vote on Monday. No excuses. I'd be more at ease if she could get

a couple more votes just for cushioning. She has worked her butt off on this issue. I've been watching her closely.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. Finally. It looks like something is finally connecting.

[davidwparker]

8. Excellent, Claire!

[salguine]

10. Let's see, how many times have we heard "We have the votes to blah blah blah..." but then

somehow when the time comes, there's always a reason blah blah blah couldn't be done?

[Demeter]

11. Fingers Crossed--Waiting to Exhale

[orbitalman]

12. Claire is taking care of business, she's a keeper. nt

[great white snark]

13. Wonderful News!

Now pass it please.

[Richard Steele]

14. Great news. That 'secrret hold' crap needs to go. K&R

[Infinite Hope]

15. Good! She needs some concrete accomplishments if she's going to win reelection. She's one of my fav.

...favorites, but she hasn't been as productive as she needs to be.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

16. Wanna bet someone puts a hold on it?

Obvious is as obvious does... :shrug:

[superconnected]

18. Wonderful. Democratic governments should never be allowed to function in secrecy.

[No Elephants]

19. Wonder what the Framers were thinking?

Article 1, Section 5.

Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.

Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either House on any question shall, at the desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.

Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

[JNelson6563]

20. Rock on Claire!

:toast: