Associated Press
A sitting president obviously has no direct role over how congressional chambers conduct their business, but President Obama's newly announced support for filibuster reform is still an important step in the larger effort.
Jumping squarely into the white-hot debate currently being waged in the Senate, the White House on Wednesday said it supports Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's efforts to change the rules of the upper chamber.
"The President has said many times that the American people are demanding action," White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said in a statement to The Huffington Post. "They want to see progress, not partisan delay games. That hasn't changed, and the President supports Majority Leader Reid's efforts to reform the filibuster process."
"Over the past few years important pieces of legislation like the DREAM Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, and the American Jobs Act weren't even allowed to be debated, and judicial nominations and key members of the administration are routinely forced to wait months for an up-or-down vote," Pfeiffer added. "The American people deserve a United States Senate that puts them first, instead of partisan delay."
This is, as best as I can tell, the first time the Obama White House has explicitly endorsed institutional Senate reforms. Indeed, as Sam Stein noted, there was a related effort two years ago, and at the time, the president stayed out of the fight.
If Obama doesn't get a say in congressional procedural matters, why does today's statement matter? For a couple of reasons, actually.
First, it raises the stakes considerably -- it's one thing for a handful of senators to seek changes; it's another when the White House agrees that the Senate is a dysfunctional mess and starts to demand reforms.
Second, though most Senate Democrats appear to support proposed changes, it's not yet clear if all of the necessary votes are in place, and some Dems may yet go wobbly. Obama's unambiguous position should help stiffen spines, making clear to the caucus this is important to party leaders on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.
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This is a serious no-brainer. No downside. We already have misery, so the Republicans only have bluster to offer. When Reid made a deal, McConnell simply broke it. Another way to look at this is any political party that holds the AG in contempt for absolutely nothing does not deserve any trust.
It actually is a "serious no-brainer." You leave it as it is. Here's a great analysis of the role of the Senate and the filibuster:
Who could be so astute? Who could have said this? Was it McCain? McConnell? Nope, it was Senator Harry Reid in 2005.
(Oh, and don't give me that, "well, the Republicans are misusing it." Then make that case with the voters of those Senators.)
Actual filibustering is not on the chopping block. What the change would be is no longer would the minority be able to block DEBATE of legislation using the filibuster.
Now, during a debate, any senator can filibuster whenever they see fit. Except they'll actually have to be present and talk the talk.
Over the last 2 years, Republican obstructionists have used the filibuster more times than in the last 40 years combined.
The GOP is the minority party in the senate because the American people put the democrats in charge. They were put in charge because the American people support the democratic agenda and want to see it implemented. This recent election settled this resoundingly.
Get over it.
Frisk was quite willing to blow away the filibuster, and the GOP will do so when they have the advantage. The only thing that stopped Frisk in 2005 was the existence of moderate GOP Senators.
A somewhat extinct species that once existed along with the now extinct notion of GOP compromise, in a cretaceous period distantly remembered when fillibusters were not even contemplated to block Johnson's landmark social legislation. As Citizen Pain notes, obstructive measures are used routinely for insignificant Senate business.
So RobDon, your characterization is quite distorted.
Big difference between the "spirit" of the filibuster rule and the way it is actually used by current senate repubs. No prior reference to the filibuster rule really holds salt against the abuse and political use of this one senate rule. Legislation is not the issue with the filibuster's current use but political power and partisan ambition to prevent the majority from doing anything helpful for the American people because it might make that majority look good in the voter's eyes.
It's obscene to the point of dysfunction and a menace to our democracy. Necessity demands a change in how this filibuster rule is used if the senate is to function as it was intended. Petulant children stomping their feet when they don't get their way or when those they dislike do, has no place in a legislative body. The damage is apparent. The affect intolerable. Should have changed this rule last session. No excuse to let it continue.
And yet, somehow, the Founders thought the Senate could be the saucer without them having written a requirement of a 6/10 super-majority for every vote into the text of the Constitution. Indeed, even Reid didn't use the filibuster the way McConnell has.
This debate goes on many times when the Senate leadership. Even the Pres spoke about the rights of minorities when he was a senator.
And it's doubtful that President Obama would announce his support for filibuster reform if Reid wasn't serious about making those changes.
Yes but for those democrats that might waiver, the President's support of the reform measures will help them to stay on "the public's" side....
There should be an LBJ "You want what in your district ? Good luck with that. " response from the President to any reclaicent Dems
As little as this is, you'd think the idiots we elect as Democratic senators could get this. Caesar was originally hailed as a "reformer" for destroying the Roman Senate after they let themselves be turned into a dysfunctional organization like the current American senate is.
Hmmm,that worked out well for him did it not.
Let us remind ourselves that the right loves examples that at first glance seem to prove a democracy is doomed to fail. Sure we could toss facts and figures at them that they never got from grade school or FOX but they despise education when it conflicts with their view.
Yes, I agree, they need to do away with all the loopholes, that afforded the Republicans to sequentially take apart their own party, and leaving millions of Americans stranded and abandoned. No more filibusters, and no more dirty tricks. Let's leave the Koch brothers to revile in their abandon.Let's let the TeaParty know that we are United and we stand against all forms of corruption. They are now dealing with a very proud group known as Democracy. Republicans are now the Black sheep, that we are extremely bored with. To catch a fly you have to be willing to go backwards first, before flying. Thumb and pointer is the way of the true Zen fly demise. I just leave them alone, they're not hurting anybody.
Steven, I disagree with your take that the proposals currently being discussed amount to little change. Forcing Senators to stand and defend their position hour after hour, day after day, 24/7/365, will draw HUGE attention to their intransigence, and pressure will build exponentially on them to finish and vote, not to mention the pressure that will build on the prostates of all them feeble old cranks. I mean imagine McCain trying to stand and talk for 12-14-16-18 hours. HA!
They have a special interest group who call themselves the 27th gang, backwards you know what that means, time travel. uh, uh, not ready. I never will, it's too late for that. We're moving forward. We have new information that will help us all to survive, what's so funny about peace, love and understanding. Now, if everyone could just remember what role they are playing, we'd be set.
The think the idea that they'd have to stand up for 30 minutes to try to make arguments that make sense and is backed up by facts is enough to shut the lot of those teapublicans up, let alone the prospect of having to blather on for 24/7.
Rusty**
Sorry Rusty but these senators would not "defend their positions hour after hour...". They would just use the time to campaign or ridicule the president hour after hour. Assuming these repubs who act like children in the senate will start acting like adults suddenly is misguided to say the least.
There absolutely should be time limits for such displays. Ideally the filibuster should be used to focus more intently on the issue in question forcing a longer deliberation where every detail is discussed...but a vote should always be the end result...it's why we elect majorities in the first place. But then we are dealing with irrational republicans now days huh.
And at some point, sure as the sun rises, they would have some words on the subject of rape.
This is change. Good change. Change you can believe in kind of change.
No more secret holds, while they're at it!
The changes being most widely reported are not even that dangerous for the minority party, they are mostly theatrical and will require at least the representation of more effort in order to continue the current obstructionism in the Senate. They will no longer be able to silently block anything from coming to the floor and if they want to filibuster a bill they will be required to actually take the floor and speak about their reasoning (think "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"). Once the vote is actually taken, the minority party will still be able to force a super-majority vote on most things, so the actual number of blocked votes may not change, but we will be able to see more openly those people who are forcing the blockade and exactly why they are doing it.
So when McConnell complains that this is stripping the minority party of any power, don't take that at face value. They just don't want to have to stand up and be open about why they block each and every action to come from the Democrats and the White House.
Yeah, get that reform, even if it's subtle minutae. Then send McConnell, McCain, Graham, Kantor, Boehner and Ryan on a free cruise. Something like the Titanic, maybe. Ship of fools . . .
They're threatening a shutdown...again. I think most non TP Americans are tired of this. Remember how it turned out for Newt? Don't allow more hostage-taking like the last phony debt ceiling crisis, Mr. Prez.
I've written to my Senator (OK, just one so far) in support of this.
I am lucky one of my Senators is Merkley and he is one of the sponsors of filibusterer reform.
if this gets done We as a Country can get moving again for the GOOD of ALL!!!
I will admit that my celebration of Obama's win was lesson by the knowledge of the current state of the Senate and the filibuster.
Filibuster reform is a must.
Nothing big or small gets done.
It is like Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation set up the filibuster rule.
The only argument against reform is a very bratty, "We want to obstruct too" option for the Dems if they lose the Senate.
Really????
Fix it folks.
good deal!
now just need the rest of the Dems, to come along for the god of the nation!
the abused of the filibusterer must be stopped at all cost! it has been abused for all the wrong reasons, dont think out of the 368 in the last 6 years (which equals all of them since the beginnings) have been for any good reason at all other then to obstruct!
Filibuster reform won't mean much unless several additional steps are taken.
First, eliminate "holds" by individual (or very small groups of) Senators. No individual should be able to obstruct the nation's business by himself/herself.
Second, put a time limit on debate for administrative branch appointments and judicial nominations. Make those subject to a straight-up majority vote of the Senate, with no opportunity to minority obstruction. The Constitution refers to the Senate giving its "advice and consent," meaning that the minority should have a chance to voice its opposition. OK. Voice it, folks. Then vote.
Third, reduce the number of votes required for cloture (or "closure") to 55. Higher numbers were a product of a less partisan era when Senators acted more individually. If we keep the number at 60, we'll never get anything meaningful done--even if we require people to keep talking.
The "hold" by an individual senator can even be anonymous! That is a despicable practice for a democratic republic. Furthermore, it is an action that is not written in the rules for the Senate.
For a party with fringes that demands strict adherence to the Constitution and "values" of the Founding Fathers, both filibusters and "holds" are examples of hypocrisy that should make them blush.
If Obama doesn't get a say in congressional procedural matters, why does today's statement matter? For a couple of reasons, actually.
First, it raises the stakes considerably -- it's one thing for a handful of senators to seek changes...
Second, though most Senate Democrats appear to support proposed changes, it's not yet clear if all of the necessary votes are in place....
Easily as important...
It might help let the Republican Senate and House leaders know that if they are going to continue trying to tell him how to run HIS branch of the government, he might start bringing more attention to all of the nonsense they're responsible for in their branch of the government.
Sort of... "OK. Let's see, if you want to keep obstructing things, I'll let the American public know it every time you do it." As it is the Republicans don't think the public knows much they put the brakes on any positive legislation in Obama's first term.
From a Oct 24, 2011 Washington Post article.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s states “Americans will dismiss the very idea that Republicans could want Obama to fail as preposterous. Republicans very well may benefit politically in the long run from blocking Obama jobs policies because voters may not know or care why his policies aren’t getting through."
They may not believe that Republicans are blocking his jobs policies in order to make Obama look ineffective so as to deny him a second term, even though McConnell has basically admitted as much on the record.
The Post article states: “There’s simply no longer any doubt Senate Republicans are denying Obama support for his policies to damage him politically.”
As McConnell suggested on CNN, “who could possibly believe something so outlandish?"
Lights... Camera... Time for some action...
a reliable hard rule of thumb:
Anything that antagonizes Republicans is the right thing to do.
I hate to say it but, time to get prepared for the midterm elections.
Waiting for Repubs to start shrieking about Presidential interference in...3...2...1...
If Dems reform the filibuster and possibly holds on nominations, I see it as a publicity win for the Dems. The public that cares about the issue want reform while the rest do not care about it. Republicans are not going to be able to turn public support their way because public opinion on Congress is so low. Anything that changes the dynamic of little or nothing being done is going to be accepted by the public as a necessary reform. Threats to shut down the Senate is not going to endear Republicans in states that are not solid Republican. It would backfire on Republicans trying to gain seats in swing states.
No brainer, filibuster must be dialed back. The people want action and the filibuster tool/weapon needs to be sheathed. They use it against the American People, it must stop.
Congress has a mandate from the people to stop playing obstruction and nothing happens.
I don't understand the problem, the old filibuster worked fine for years, things got done and the minority party had a way of making their opinions known by standing up in front of the Senate and talking. Why did we make the filibuster easy, it wasn't supposed to be easy it was supposed to be difficult for a reason, you really had to feel passionate about a law to use that kind of energy to filibuster. Don't change the number needed to break the filibuster, make it that they have to actually filibuster. lets go back to the system that worked for was nearly 200 years.
That's the point. It's not being used how it was 200 years ago; it's being used to block even any debate on everything from major legislation to minor administrative appointments. All-out obstructionism.
The proposed reforms simply remove the minority's ability to think the word filibuster, and it happens. Going forward, a filibuster would only be allowed once debate has started, and it would have to be physically enacted - just like the old days.
Governing should happen in the daylight. These rule changes help that happen.
I'm probably more cynical than most, so I doubt seriously the Democrats have the backbone, the will, or the just plain guts it takes to stand up for Americans. Republicans have outrageously abused something that is supposed to be used sparingly, and they relish in the idea of shutting down Congress whenever they get the urge. Abuse of power comes in many disquises, and this one has become a blatant disregard for the wishes of the American people. If we go back to the original intent that a Congressman had to actually get on the floor and speak non-stop, or until they collapsed or gave up, then we would be better off. I think Republicans fear that they could not string together enough coherent sentences to be effective.
Don't doubt Dodge, encourage
I keep remembering the Republican voices from 2005 arguing for an "up or down vote." I love it when RMS uses archival footage to have current statements rebutted by the same Senator's earlier position...
For example http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/10/27/160129/-The-Up-or-Down-Vote-talking-point-is-dead
Republican abuse of the filibuster has amounted to a stealth Amendment to our Constitution, by one man, Mitch McConnell, and his caucus of hand-puppets. How many state legislatures did he line up to pass an Amendment stating that the Senate would now require 60 votes to pass legislation, or even debate a bill? He would be laughed out of the Senate if he presented honestly to the nation the Constitutional Amendment that he has implemented without any vote in any legislature in the land. He and his caucus have made a mockery of the Constitution they swore to defend. How much of our nation's legislative history would be erased if the 60-vote requirement had been in effect?
The Republicans remind me of those Dr Phil episodes with out of control adolescents whose parents are at the end of their rope trying to figure out what to do that works. The Republicans/children choose long term pain (of the American public) by continuing to choose short term (so called) gain (theirs). Like out of control teenagers, they blame everyone else and take no responsibility for how their own behavior has led them to their current condition and no responsibility for how their actions affect others.
Mature teenagers and adults have learned to choose short term pain in order to achieve long term gains. This is called self-discipline, thinking about the big picture, etc. Republicans have shed whatever of those qualities they ever had.
It has come to the point where the grownups must not give up on any battle in order to tame these narcissistic sociopaths who act like they were raised by a pack of jackals. Accomodating the Republicans is like giving in and further spoiling a spoiled child. It will only embolden them to continue their out of control behavior.