Page 80 - Rule Changes News Today

In the process, mccain gave credence to filibuster reform. his comments step all over mitch mcconnells claim. its not an effort to marginalize the minority party. with 386 filibusters from republicans, these rule changes are simply a way to make the senate work again. thats what you pay them for. lets turn now to senator debbie stabenow of michigan. theres been a lot of conversation in the liberal community in this country about this. and democrats seem to be chomping at the bit. is this going t...

Do it by january 1st, were going to keep passing tax cuts for the middle class. if they keep say iing no, eventually they wont because the public pressure will be on them they need to step up. they have to quit protecting. they do everything in the name of the wealthy. >> okay. sherrod brown, stay with us. i appreciate it. it looks like senator-elect elizabeth warren, a champion of financial reform, will get a spot on the banking committee. and senator john mccain hints he might favor filibu...

Mcconnells claim. its not an effort to marginalize the minority party. with 386 filibusters from republicans, these rule changes are simply a way to make the senate work again. thats what you pay them for. lets turn now to senator debbie stabenow of michigan. theres been a lot of conversation in the liberal community in this country about this. and democrats seem to be chomping at the bit. is this going to happen? are we going to see change? >> yes, i believe that we are going to see change. we ...

>> i think it would have some effect. there are all kinds of possibilities in terms of reforms. some have gone to suggest that the filibuster should be removed all together and it should be a majority rule institution the way it used to be. the kind of changes that democrats have in mind would make a difference. i just dont know how much. we also dont have all the details yet. we dont know to what extent he wants to make changes. it looks like wed see an incremental step in the right direction. ...

Us and we can only imagine what hed be saying. when senator bird was elected to the senate in 1959; in that congress there was one filibuster for the entire congress. in the last congress, there was 137. so while robert was an institutionalist and wanted to protect the senate, he couldnt have imagined a situation that we find ourselves in now. which is one where republicans are filibustering every bill of any consequence. neither could the founding fathers. the senate wasnt designed to work this...

The filibuster should be removed all together and it should be a majority rule institution the way it used to be. the kind of changes that democrats have in mind would make a difference. i just dont know how much. we also dont have all the details yet. we dont know to what extent he wants to make changes. it looks like wed see an incremental step in the right direction. >> its interesting to view the republicans on this. mitch mcconnell quoted robert bird today saying that bird would have wanted...

Its normally a great tool for the minority to have a voice. it can slow down a discussion of a bill. it allows the minority to make changes before a vote. filibuster can also kill a bill, even if the majority of senators want to pass it. now over the last four years, the republicans have been using the filibuster as really a political weapon to cripple the senate and movement at all. heres a comparison. lyndon johnson served as senate majority leader for the same amount of time as harry reid. no...

In the last congress, there was 137. so while robert was an institutionalist and wanted to protect the senate, he couldnt have imagined a situation that we find ourselves in now. which is one where republicans are filibustering every bill of any consequence. neither could the founding fathers. the senate wasnt designed to work this way. >> senator bird would not want these rule changes, would be going against what the democrats want right now. the bottom line here is the danger in changing the f...

Well. its normally a great tool for the minority to have a voice. it can slow down a discussion of a bill. it allows the minority to make changes before a vote. filibuster can also kill a bill, even if the majority of senators want to pass it. now over the last four years, the republicans have been using the filibuster as really a political weapon to cripple the senate and movement at all. heres a comparison. lyndon johnson served as senate majority leader for the same amount of time as harry re...

Anyone on either side would be able to characterize this fairly as a sweeping overhaul of senate rules. they are just not that sweeping. >> do you think it would work? >> i think it would have some effect. there are all kinds of possibilities in terms of reforms. some have gone to suggest that the filibuster should be removed all together and it should be a majority rule institution the way it used to be. the kind of changes that democrats have in mind would make a difference. i just dont know h...