Harry Reid May Rewrite Filibuster Rules

Democrats complain current system is being abused
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 23, 2010 2:52 PM CST
Harry Reid May Rewrite Filibuster Rules
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., talks with the Associated Press in his office on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Harry Reid is pushing forward with a plan to reform the filibuster procedure in the Senate—and at least make it harder for Republicans to gum up the works with the mere threat of one, reports the Washington Post. Nothing's guaranteed, of course, but all returning Democratic senators are on board with rewriting the rules, notes the National Journal.

Ideas being kicked around include changing the number of votes necessary to start or end debate, to making senators stay on the floor and actually filibuster. “There need to be changes to the rules to allow filibusters to be conducted by people who actually want to block legislation instead of people being able to quietly say, ‘I object’ and go home,” says Democrat Claire McCaskill. (More Harry Reid stories.)

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