The Senate is supposed to be a place of compromise, a home for grand debates on the biggest issues.
But Republicans are abusing the rules, turning the time-honored filibuster into a tool of obstruction and gridlock to prevent any debate or progress. Since becoming the minority in 2007, Republicans have threatened to filibustermore than 400 times - twice as much as any previous term.
With the current rules, just the threat to filibuster is enough to halt proceedings. And they do it to block progress on everything from mundane procedural votes to judicial nominees and the budget.
Abusing this time-honored tradition, Republicans have blocked:
- Judicial confirmations to fill 55 judicial vacancies, including 34 considered "judicial emergencies."
- Food Safety Enhancement Act
- Wounded Veteran Job Security Act
- American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
- And the list goes on and on...
But, in just a few weeks the Senate has the chance to change its rules and require members who threaten afilibuster to actually take to the floor in a real-live debate.
The window for change is short - rules can be changed when a new Congress starts next month. So, we need you to contact your Senator today.
Keystone Progress is working on the cmapaign with our partner, ProgressNow NewMexico.
Sign the petition to reform to Rule XXII (the filibuster rule) so that bills can actually come to the floor and force members in opposition to debate the merits publicly, even with a filibuster if they wish - so long as they actually stand up and speak for as long as they want to filibuster.
Tell your Senator it's time to fix the filibuster and put Washington back to work.
Michael Morrill
Keystone Progress
