Durbin on the Filibuster
8,191Signatures |
The American people are sick of process blocking progress. They’re fed up with an
arbitrary tradition that allows a minority of Senators to prevent popular, much-
needed legislation from even coming to a vote.
Frankly, so am I.
Please sign this petition to my colleagues in the Senate, supporting the Harkin-Shaheen proposal or other similar proposals to eliminate the crippling 60-vote requirement to overcome a filibuster.
Thank you,
Dick Durbin
U.S. Senator
Full Petition Text:
Dear United States Senators,
I urge you to support the Harkin-Shaheen proposal or similar proposals to eliminate the crippling 60-vote cloture requirement. These challenging times call for more progress, not more process. And that means we need to revisit the filibuster, which has allowed a minority in Congress to prevent popular, much-needed legislation from even coming to a vote.
The Harkin-Shaheen proposal would continue to provide ample time for all Senators to voice their concerns about legislation and seek changes. But it would allow for a gradual reduction of the necessary vote threshold needed to conclude debate so that a minority of Senators cannot impede progress indefinitely.
When our Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution and drafted the initial rules of the Senate, they never intended requiring a supermajority to pass any and all legislation. They just wanted to be sure that Senators took time to carefully debate and consider bills before taking votes.
That’s why I urge you to support the Harkin-Shaheen proposal, or similar filibuster reform proposals.
[Your name]
This is unlikely to happen, but slowly building a movement to get rid of it benefits everyone. The problem with the filibuster is that while it was only used sparingly up until the 1990s, it has become a standard practice to block all bills with which you disagree. Previously, the filibuster was used on things like Civil Rights and other hot button issues, but if you recall Clinton’s Stimulus plan in 1993, it passed with 50 votes and Al Gore–it wasn’t filibustered. While there was Republican opposition, it simply wasn’t one of those bills that was such a change that people would use the filibuster. In contrast, we now hav an extension of unemployment benefits and COBRA that is being filibustered. It’s simply time for it to go. That does mean when Republicans are in power, Democrats won’t be able to easily stop legislation, but that’s the point–elections have consequences.
One final note, anyone who conflates the Nuclear option to essentially carve out an exception to the filibuster for appointments as the Republicans proposed in 2005/6 with reconciliation is too stupid to be speaking publicly. Seriously, the Republicans used reconciliation to attempt to open up ANWR at the time as well as several other issues. It’s a standard practice and is a legitimate tool.