What would U.S. Senate filibuster reform look like?
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- What would U.S. Senate filibuster reform look like? (program audio)
With all eyes on the fiscal cliff negotiations, we'll look at another battle raging in Washington: the battle over filibuster reform.
A citizen lobbying group has sued to challenge the current Senate rules, which require a 60-vote majority to overrule a filibuster. On Monday, the Senate asked a federal judge to throw out the suit.
From the Associated Press:
Emmet J. Bondurant, a lawyer representing Common Cause in the case, said the nation's Founding Fathers never intended to allow a minority in the Senate to block a majority from considering a bill. But that's what the rules now allow, he told U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan.The Senate's lawyer in the case, Thomas Caballero, said the Constitution gives the Senate the authority to make its own rules...
Joining Common Cause in the suit were four Democratic House members and three illegal immigrants who complain they're subject to being deported because a GOP-led filibuster in 2010 prevented the Senate from voting on a bill that would have given them a legal path to citizenship.
Gregory Koger, associate professor of political science at the University of Miami, will join The Daily Circuit Friday, Dec. 14 to discuss the latest on the suit and options for reform.
‹ Earlier
The Daily Circuit from December 14, 2012
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- What would U.S. Senate filibuster reform look like?
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