Despite a strong majority supporting a three-month extension of benefits for the long-term unemployed, a minority of Senators succeeded in filibustering the legislation this afternoon, blocking the measure from clearing the needed 60-vote threshold. Fix the Senate Now issues the following statement on the vote:
Fix the Senate Now
Washington, DC – Last November’s Senate reforms have led to a more productive, responsive, and democratic Senate. Without Senate reform, we likely would still be waiting to confirm three judges to vacancies on the D.C.
Fix the Senate Now
After years of growing gridlock and an increasing inability to keep the Senate operating on even basic and bipartisan issues, the Senate reforms shepherded through by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in November were a step back toward functional democracy. Already, the reforms have led to a spate of confirmations of qualified judicial and executive branch nominees.
Fix the Senate Now
Washington, DC – Three weeks have passed since the U.S. Senate instituted sensible, democratic reforms intended to reduce gridlock and put the Senate on a path back to its traditional functionality.
Fix the Senate Now
Washington, DC – This afternoon, by a 57-41 margin, a majority of the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Fix the Senate Now applauds the Senate for confirming Rep. Watt to this essential position. Today’s confirmation was only possible, however, due to the sensible Senate changes advanced in November.
Fix the Senate Now
Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Patricia Millett to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, by a 56-38 vote margin.
The following is a statement from Fix the Senate Now:
Fix the Senate Now
To: Interested Parties
From: Fix the Senate Now
Date: November 21, 2013
Re: Senate Rules Reform – Common-Sense & Common in Practice
Overview
Fix the Senate Now
“Ensuring that Qualified Nominees Can Be Judged on Merits & Receive an Up-or-Down Vote Should Not Be a Contentious Notion”
Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate moved forward toward functional democracy by reforming Senate rules governing nominations.
The following is a statement from Fix the Senate Now:
Fix the Senate Now
Washington, DC – With Senate rules reform moving back to center stage in Washington, the Fix the Senate Now coalition is today sending a letter to Capitol Hill to speak out that the Senate gridlock is unacceptable.
Fix the Senate Now
Washington, DC – In the aftermath of the latest Senate Republican filibuster of a highly-qualified nominee Monday, President Obama summed-up what’s at stake: “This obstruction is completely unprecedented … When it comes to judicial nominations, I am fulfilling my constitutional responsibility, but Congress is not. Instead, Senate Republicans are standing in the way of a fully functioning judiciary that serves the American people."