Over the past year or so, we've seen the Senate filibuster take center stage as a political tactical tool. Or have we? As much as the 60 vote "supermajority" and the obstructionism of the 41 vote "micromajority(?)" has been talked about, both within the Senate and in the media, we haven't yet seen the filibuster actually used recently. Instead, we see the threat of a filibuster used which causes the party introducing the legislation to scramble around furiously as it tries to pick off one or two more members of the minority and garner supermajority status.
Today, the Republicans will give up their threat to filibuster the banking regulation bill, which they hoped would give them time to change it before debate, and instead will offer amendments on the floor to get the change they want. Of course, despite the fact that Republicans have been doing it lately, Democrats are no strangers to the threat of the filibuster.
Here's my suggestion though: call their bluff! Voters get mad enough to see the minority party stalling the people's business by saying they'll use the Senate tactic; so they'll likely be incensed when they actually see a filibuster in action. The Senate's job is to write and pass legislation beneficial to the people. So when one side (it doesn't matter which one) says they'd rather stand up and read a phone book just to take up the Senate's time, they're cheating the people and wasting our money. So, in the hopes of reworking that ridiculous tactic (though I do understand it's importance in certain circumstances), hold them to it. Let the people see how petty they look and see what that means the next election year. It just may be the accountability they so enjoy being free from.
Today, the Republicans will give up their threat to filibuster the banking regulation bill, which they hoped would give them time to change it before debate, and instead will offer amendments on the floor to get the change they want. Of course, despite the fact that Republicans have been doing it lately, Democrats are no strangers to the threat of the filibuster.
Here's my suggestion though: call their bluff! Voters get mad enough to see the minority party stalling the people's business by saying they'll use the Senate tactic; so they'll likely be incensed when they actually see a filibuster in action. The Senate's job is to write and pass legislation beneficial to the people. So when one side (it doesn't matter which one) says they'd rather stand up and read a phone book just to take up the Senate's time, they're cheating the people and wasting our money. So, in the hopes of reworking that ridiculous tactic (though I do understand it's importance in certain circumstances), hold them to it. Let the people see how petty they look and see what that means the next election year. It just may be the accountability they so enjoy being free from.
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