Washington, DC – Citing the bizarre occasion of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s “self filibuster” Thursday, a range of voices are noting how the event demonstrates unprecedented levels of Senate obstruction and the need for real Senate rules reform. Among the reactions:
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Washington, DC – As the move to reform Senate rules gains momentum, some observers are calling for the Senate to reach a bi-partisan agreement focused on changing the behavior of individual Members, rather than changing the chamber’s rules. The Fix the Senate Coalition has an answer for that: Been there. Done that. Didn’t work.
It was called the “gentlemen’s agreement,” reached in January 2011, and it failed. Neither side made good on its promises. To truly change behavior we need actual rules reform in the upper chamber, not non-binding agreements that tinker at the margins.
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Washington, DC – Momentum for real Senate rules reform continues to build, with supportive developments occurring both inside and outside the chamber. Below are some of the key happenings and commentaries in regards to the ongoing rules reform debate:
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Washington, DC – Renewed focus on how Senate obstruction is hurting our judiciary offers a reminder of why Senate rules reform – including a focus on streamlining the nominations process – is so sorely needed. Currently, 20 judicial nominees await Senate floor votes, including 12 who would fill vacancies that the U.S. Courts have declared to be “judicial emergencies.”
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(Crossposted at the Brennan Center for Justice.)
On Monday, Senator Mitch McConnell warned that changing the Senate rules by a majority vote, a procedure known as the “constitutional option,” would cause “irreparable harm” by “breaking the rules to change the rules.”
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Filibuster reform is showing up on editorial pages around the country. The confrontation about the rules between Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell on the Senate floor has brought new attention to the causes of Senate gridlock and the proposed solutions.
Fix the Senate Now
Washington, DC – A range of outside observers are calling for substantial U.S. Senate rules reform to cut down on unprecedented obstruction and to again allow the chamber to function as a deliberative body. From the re-launch of the Fix the Senate Now coalition to support from some of the nation’s leading editorial pages and political columnists, the effort to reform Senate rules is gathering steam and support. Recent supportive commentary from outside observers includes the following:
Fix the Senate Now
Washington, DC – With U.S. Senate rules and filibuster reform back in the news, much of the coverage has focused on how the reform process is likely to unfold. However, as the Fix the Senate Now coalition notes today, the renewed focus on “how” the Senate achieves reform should not distract from “why” the chamber should pursue reform in the first place.
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Senate rules reform was a hot button topic in the press and around the nation this week. President Obama declared his support and the Fix the Senate coalition officially launched on Wednesday. Here’s a glimpse of the key stories from the week:
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The “Constitutional Option”