Senate Fillibuster Rule Could Be Gutted

[ChrisD]

I just got this from the National Association For Gun Rights on FB:



Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell may be cooking up a deal with Harry Reid to gut the Senate filibuster, clearing a path for gun control. Call McConnell's office RIGHT NOW at 202-224-2541 and DEMAND he not cut a deal with Reid that would gut the Senate filibuster. SHARE this with your friends.

 

[Docster]

I don't disagree, but there's nothing on their website about this so-called deal, and before over-reacting I'd prefer to hear about it from a more reliable source, such as the NRA-ILA or SAF

 

[Lloyd]

Neither side wants to do away with the filabuster, because inevitably their side will be in the minority.

Reid is a rep of a very pro-gun district. He could certainly be considered an ally in the fight.

 

[jrumann59]

Neither side wants to do away with the filabuster, because inevitably their side will be in the minority.

Reid is a rep of a very pro-gun district. He could certainly be cinsidered an ally in the fight.

Mark my words he will sell us down the river like a lot of the Fudds have.

 

[ChrisD]

I hope not. Both sides have used it as a tool, but I think that the current crop of critters in DC are too shortsighted to care about future goals. Just wanted to pass it along.

 

[Lloyd]

Mark my words he will sell us down the river like a lot of the Fudds have.

WellI hope you are wrong. I wouldn't put it past him, but his last election was reallly close. Close enough that it would be foolish to alienate a large part of your constituency. At least one would hope, but I am sure his leadership position would be more of a value to him so it will be interesting.

 

[Just5Guy]

Political Suicide...and if there is one thing these guys care about, it's staying in power.

 

[swinokur]

Any block of an AWB would be in the House of Reps anyway. What happens in the Senate isn't as important IMHO.

 

[Cig Sour]

No way, must be a rumor. That is the only leverage the republicians have in the Senate.

 

[Rickman]

Hopefully and maybe he is trying to force Reid's hand and get their vote on record prior to 2014 elections. The red state dem senators up for reelection would be forced to show their hand by either voting with Obama or with their constituents. So far Reid is saying the reason he will not bring it up is because the House will kill it. I hope anyway.

 

[swinokur]

No way, must be a rumor. That is the only leverage the republicians have in the Senate.

QFT

 

[gungate]

I am beginning to think things like this are not necessarily bad as they are a quicker means to the inevitable end.

 

[BlackBart]

I call BS on that.

 

[gmhowell]

Doesn't matter what Mitch McConnell wants or does. The rule are adopted via a majority vote on the first day of the session. The Democrats can make this change with not a single vote from a GOP senator.

Right now, Reid wants to protect it for when/if the Democrats are again in the majority, but many of the newer Democratic senators want the change. The big problem with Reid's thinking is that the Democrats never used the frickin' thing the last few times they were in the minority.

 

[Matlack]

They have been discussing this since the november elections. Dems have the power right now and want to exploit it for more than simple votes for gun control. They want to ram rod a ton of laws through and any confirmation hearings that are presented. This is a much bigger deal than 2a. The dems aren't stupid and know exactly what they are doing with this. This is a big picture deal that is coming from POTUS also not just Ried

 

[Mr H]

IMO, Reid knows that this is a self-defeating idea (someone is ALWAYS in the minority), and is floating it to see what kind of bargaining chip it might be.

If the Senate does away with the filibuster, it loses credibility as the deliberative body it was intended to be, and we move one step closer to ancient Rome...

 

[BondJamesBond]

I just got this from the National Association For Gun Rights on FB:



Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell may be cooking up a deal with Harry Reid to gut the Senate filibuster, clearing a path for gun control. Call McConnell's office RIGHT NOW at 202-224-2541 and DEMAND he not cut a deal with Reid that would gut the Senate filibuster. SHARE this with your friends.

The filibuster is a rule made by the Senate, so it can be ended by the Senate. There are no real filibusters anymore anyway. Besides, how would ending the filibuster pave the way for gun control when the GOP controls the House?

 

[OnTarget]

That's at odds from what Mitch McConnell was reported to say just a day or two ago. He said he would kill Gun Control (to paraphrase).

 

[Mr H]

The filibuster is a rule made by the Senate, so it can be ended by the Senate. There are no real filibusters anymore anyway. Besides, how would ending the filibuster pave the way for gun control when the GOP controls the House?

Modern 'filibusters' are more by consent.

A: We want X

B: Can't have it.

A: Can you block it?

B: Yup.

A: Oh... OK, then. Next item.

 

[ChrisD]

The ability to fillibuster is one of the things that separate the bodies. IMO, if a Senator wants to legislate by majority rule, they should run for a position in the House. A simple majority rule enacted would make it easier to push bills and nominees through.
I was just passing along what I thought might be useful info.
As an aside, I got this in an email from NAGR tonight:


Fwd: Republican negotiating with Harry Reid?‏

6:36 PM


Dudley Brown

To Christopher D

Dear Christopher ,

I'm worried Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell may be about to cut a deal with Harry Reid . . .

. . . that's why I need you to TAKE ACTION at once.

You see, Reid may still be just a few votes short of the 51 he needs to break Senate rules and use the “nuclear option” to destroy the Senate filibuster.

But if McConnell cuts a deal with Reid to deliver the votes he needs, he’ll have cleared a path for the passage of Barack Obama’s Gun Ban Plan.

Please CLICK HERE to send Mitch McConnell an email demanding he not cut a deal with Harry Reid to gut the Senate filibuster.

Thanks, in advance, for taking action.

-- Dudley