Pirate's Cove

Is this a good idea? Bad idea?

Senate GOP debates filibuster reform after Trump calls to ‘nationalize’ elections

President Trump’s call for Republicans to “take over” voting procedures in more than a dozen states and “nationalize” the midterm elections has Republican senators debating filibuster reform to get around Democratic opposition to a bill that would require voters to show proof of citizenship.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a staunch Trump ally and chair of the GOP’s Senate Steering Committee, says Republicans have power under the Senate rules to force Democrats to hold the floor continuously to filibuster and block the SAVE Act, legislation that would require voters to present birth certificates and passports when registering to vote.

But the proposal to interpret the Senate rules in a way to make it tougher for members of the minority party to block legislation through the filibuster is already getting strong pushback from some senior Republicans.

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said he’s worried that requiring Democrats to actively stand and speak for hours and hours to slow down legislation will create a massive traffic jam on the Senate floor.

And he worries Democrats will use retaliatory tactics to derail the GOP agenda that would require Republican senators to be constantly on call to vote at a moment’s notice to establish a quorum.

Filibusters had always been people standing up there and speaking as long as possible, like when Democrats filibustered the Civil Rights Act. It wasn’t needing 60 votes to move legislation to an actual vote to see if it passes or not. With one party or another not allowing the 60 vote threshold that sure jammed up the works, right? But, yeah, Democrats will sure do what they do, they are cutthroat in a way most in the GOP aren’t. Republicans try and play nice. Get along go along.

But, does it make a difference which way it goes? If Democrats are forced to stand up there and yammer they’ll eventually stop and the GOP can vote and pass bills. Democrats usually find a way around GOP filibusters, so, it makes no difference what the requirements are.

Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said requiring talking filibusters would “change the Senate” and likely lead to the abolition of the filibuster entirely.

“Filibuster changes, I think, change the Senate. It may happen one day, but I don’t think it’s a good idea,” he said.

Keeping it is a good idea. But, despite a rule change in 1917 requiring a supermajority to move legislation to a pass/fail vote, it wasn’t until the 70s that it was simple the 60 vote threshold.

Your thoughts?