The unprecedented abuse of the filibuster to hamstring essential government functions—outrageously, including the federal courts—must stop now. Urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to end the filibuster for all presidential nominees—no exceptions.
Why is this important?
Great news! Senate Majority Harry Reid and his colleagues just took the historic step of eliminating the filibuster for most presidential nominations -- which was being abused by a minority in the Senate to obstruct every recent qualified judicial nominee. The New York Times called it "the most fundamental shift in the way the Senate functions in more than a generation."
This change will stop the courts from being hamstrung by vacancies. It will also prevent outrages like the recent filibusters that stalled enforcement of basic election rules by the Federal Elections Commission and that tried to make the Federal Communications Commission nominee promise not to require disclosure on political ads.
Federal judge nominees and executive-office appointments can now be confirmed as the Constitution intended: under the principle of majority rule. The filibuster will still be in place for legislation and Supreme Court nominations, which is a real problem that still needs to be addressed, but this is a landmark step towards a functioning government.
Nearly 6,000 Californians like you signed petitions to Senators Feinstein and Boxer urging them to pass filibuster reform – and they ended up providing the two critical votes.
Sign the petition to thank them:
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/thanks-for-reforming
