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US70 - Curtail the filibuster
| Lower the cloture vote requirement to 54 votes to curtail the filibuster. | |
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Description
Upon Obama's election, the Senate GOP's announced goal was that he be a one term President. To achieve this, they became the party of "no," using the filibuster to kill his agenda or water it down to ineffectiveness. Achieving a 60 member plurality to vote cloture was momentarily within the Democratic grasp; but was squandered in the name of compromise. This requirement would demand a super majority to move legislation ahead. It's unlikely that such a numerical advantage will exist anytime soon. Ironically, a simple 51 vote margin would lower the number needed to end cloture to a more reasonable number...say 54 or 55.
Arguments
Since 2000, the GOP has fostered hyper partisanship in the Senate. The number signing on to Grover Norquist's pledge clearly illustrates this, as does the use of the filibuster to curtail the President's agenda. A simple 51 vote to end the 60 vote cloture requirement would end the filibuster threat and return the need for compromise to achieve the majority's passage of legislation. While the Democrats have a majority now, there is no guarantees that this will remain the case in 2013. Such a vote could work for both and certainly end some of the madness of party first, nation be damned!
Counterarguments
The President's agenda is obviously by now the same as that of the bankers and the military industrial complex.
That's who you're working for too, with such a proposal. We need super-majority voting, not this crap simple 50% majority, which insures that the maximum number of people's concerns will not be met. Super-majority means like 80 or 90% minimum. That would help prevent so many abusive laws from being passed.
Simple majority is for the Stone Age and for Fascists, Imperialists and Feudal Systems.
That's who you're working for too, with such a proposal. We need super-majority voting, not this crap simple 50% majority, which insures that the maximum number of people's concerns will not be met. Super-majority means like 80 or 90% minimum. That would help prevent so many abusive laws from being passed.
Simple majority is for the Stone Age and for Fascists, Imperialists and Feudal Systems.
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