To: The United States Senate
Fix the Filibuster now!
Harry Reid must take decisive and historic action on day one of the new Senate term. He must end or radically reform the filibuster.
On Day One of the new Senate term, when the Senate sets its rules, there will be a small window of a few hours open for Harry Reid and Democrats to reform the filibuster and all it will take to do it is 51 votes – a simple majority. Considering Democrats could be entering the new Senate with as many as 55 votes, then this is a real possibility. They just have to have the courage to do it.
Over his second-term, President Obama will have a chance to appoint one or two or as many as four new Supreme Court justices, along with a slew of new federal judges around the nation. But the Republican filibuster, which lets a minority of Republicans to block all of these new judges, will drastically reduce the quality of jurists the President can nominate.
On Day One of the new Senate term, when the Senate sets its rules, there will be a small window of a few hours open for Harry Reid and Democrats to reform the filibuster and all it will take to do it is 51 votes – a simple majority. Considering Democrats could be entering the new Senate with as many as 55 votes, then this is a real possibility. They just have to have the courage to do it.
Over his second-term, President Obama will have a chance to appoint one or two or as many as four new Supreme Court justices, along with a slew of new federal judges around the nation. But the Republican filibuster, which lets a minority of Republicans to block all of these new judges, will drastically reduce the quality of jurists the President can nominate.
Why is this important?
Harry Reid must have the courage to change the filibuster rules in the Senate on the first day of the new congress. This is the only way to achieve the priorities of the President in his second term without facing total obstruction from Senate Republicans.