Filibuster reform & dream

Among the chief revisions that Democrats say will likely be offered: Senators could not initiate a filibuster of a bill before it reaches the floor unless they first muster 40 votes for it, and they would have to remain on the floor to sustain it. That is a change from current rules, which require the majority leader to file a cloture motion to overcome an anonymous objection to a motion to proceed, and then wait 30 hours for a vote on it.

Indeed, the filibuster was never even originally intended to exist. "It's a mistake," notes filibuster historian Sarah Binder. And not even a popular one, at that. A poll last month found that nearly two-thirds of voters favored scrapping the filibuster altogether, including 57 percent of Republicans and 61 percent of Independents.

If Democrats do succeed in reforming the filibuster next Congress, headlines like "DREAM Act Fails in 55-41 Senate Vote" may soon be a thing of the past.

http://pdamerica.org/articles/news/2...08-35-news.php

By saying the DA may be a thing of the past...I think he means forget about it till 2012

2011 is not the election year. We do have a shot at the Dream Act.

You can't Pass the house

Exactly..

It just wont be possible. Remember how close the vote was in the house this last time. We'r talking when the dems had majority

Exactly... and by using DA as an example they meant that if the filibuster hadn't existed this past lame duck session, the DA would have passes with the votes it got. So, in the future, bills like the DA would pass with a simple majority UNLESS they are SOOOO controversial that someone opposing it woul actually stand on the floor until changing the mind of enough senators.

le sigh... tick tock tick tock

Last week, Daily Kos asked you to join with Senators Jeff Merkley and Tom Udall to help reform Senate rules regarding the filibuster. Since then, all 53 Democratic Senators who will be returning to the Senate next year have signed a letter saying Senate rules regarding the filibuster should be reformed.

This is huge, because only a majority of Senators are needed to make reform happen. The question is no longer if the Senate rules regarding the filibuster will be reformed, but how they will be reformed.

With momentum on our side, take this chance to join with Daily Kos, as well a Senators Jeff Merkley and Tom Udall, by signing our petition to make the filibuster a real filibuster.

There should be a price for obstruction. Senators should have to take to the floor of the Senate and engage in a televised talk-a-thon to block legislation.

We can make this happen, but the window for reform opens on January 5th--only one week from today. If you want to play a role in reforming the rules of the Senate, it’s now or never.

Sign the petition to make the filibuster a real filibuster. Senators Merkley and Udall will use your show of support to make the case to their colleagues that this is the reform we need.

Keep fighting,
Chris Bowers
Campaign Director, Daily Kos

they gonna do it now, that we lost the house, i like it how the dems passed everything they wanted in the lame duck except Dream, smh

When we have a good border security bill then DA/CIR will be easy to pass in the House.