TomFitz
Mayor
Filibuster reform was enacted in the Senate in order to make the process move smoother and end the minority practice of holding up the entire business of government in order to force thier agenda.
For two decades, the process worked, and the notorious "talking filibuster", most frequently used by Southern Democrats against civil rights legislation, disappeared.
It is still gone.
But the minority's ability to hold up the entire business of government did not die with it.
Today,much of our government is run by continuing resolution. This creates anxiety in planning for government agencies, contractors, employees.
The disappearance of the talking filibuster has made it possible for the minority to hold the nation hostage with little or no poltical consequences.
Republican cluck about their record after record number of filibusters. They used the filibuster to withold tax cuts to all Americans in favor of a tax cut for the rich., They held the nation's unemployed hostage. And they have used the filibuster to block literally hundreds of federal appointees, particularly in the Judiciary.
It's time for it to end.
Yes, the minority should have the extra procedural right to hold up the process while it makes its argument. That's the way it has been since the beginning.
But filibuster reform was enacted in the 1970's, when there were no TV cameras in the Senate.
Today, if it doesn't happen on television, YouTube or C-Span, it didn't happen. So Republcians have literally been able to stage hundreds of filibusters with no real political cost.
It's time for the GOP to have to stand out in the open with its real agenda.
And that calls for the "talking filibuster".
The minority still has its rigths. But now a politician or a party with an unpopular agenda will no longer be able to hide behind the anonyminty of the current system. They'll have to make their case in the open, hour after hour, day after day, as the nations watches.
And history shows that when unpopular and or unjust poltical ideas have to be upheld in that way, their proponants many win the battle, but they inevitably lose the war.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84195.html?hp=f2
For two decades, the process worked, and the notorious "talking filibuster", most frequently used by Southern Democrats against civil rights legislation, disappeared.
It is still gone.
But the minority's ability to hold up the entire business of government did not die with it.
Today,much of our government is run by continuing resolution. This creates anxiety in planning for government agencies, contractors, employees.
The disappearance of the talking filibuster has made it possible for the minority to hold the nation hostage with little or no poltical consequences.
Republican cluck about their record after record number of filibusters. They used the filibuster to withold tax cuts to all Americans in favor of a tax cut for the rich., They held the nation's unemployed hostage. And they have used the filibuster to block literally hundreds of federal appointees, particularly in the Judiciary.
It's time for it to end.
Yes, the minority should have the extra procedural right to hold up the process while it makes its argument. That's the way it has been since the beginning.
But filibuster reform was enacted in the 1970's, when there were no TV cameras in the Senate.
Today, if it doesn't happen on television, YouTube or C-Span, it didn't happen. So Republcians have literally been able to stage hundreds of filibusters with no real political cost.
It's time for the GOP to have to stand out in the open with its real agenda.
And that calls for the "talking filibuster".
The minority still has its rigths. But now a politician or a party with an unpopular agenda will no longer be able to hide behind the anonyminty of the current system. They'll have to make their case in the open, hour after hour, day after day, as the nations watches.
And history shows that when unpopular and or unjust poltical ideas have to be upheld in that way, their proponants many win the battle, but they inevitably lose the war.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84195.html?hp=f2
