filibuster

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Senate OKs New Homeland Security Chief

Jeh C. Johnson confirmed with help from new filibuster rules

(Newser) - Democrats used their newly initiated lower threshold for defeating filibusters yesterday to win Senate confirmation of President Obama's nomination of former top Pentagon lawyer Jeh C. Johnson to be secretary of Homeland Security. On a 57-37 vote, Democrats broke a GOP blockade against Johnson before the Senate minutes later...

Filibuster Vote Makes This a Momentous Congress
Filibuster Vote Makes This
a Momentous Congress
OPINION
Nov 21, 2013 4:59 PM CST

Filibuster Vote Makes This a Momentous Congress

Ezra Klein says it was necessary in age of polarization, but not all agree

(Newser) - Today's vote in the Senate to curb the use of the filibuster has turned what was shaping up to be an "inconsequential" Congress into exactly the opposite, writes Ezra Klein at the Washington Post . "Indeed, this might prove to be one of the most significant congresses in...

Reid Passes 'Nuclear Option,' Changes Rules on Filibuster

Historic vote means presidential nominees need simple majority

(Newser) - The so-called "nuclear option" just happened: The Senate voted to weaken filibusters and make it all but impossible for Republicans to block confirmation of the president's nominees for judges and other top posts, reports the AP . While the filibuster can't be used on those nominations, it's...

Ted Cruz Wraps Up After 21-Plus Hours

His anti-ObamaCare speech ends; Senate moves ahead with debate on House bill

(Newser) - Ted Cruz managed to keep up his anti-ObamaCare crusade on the Senate floor for nearly a full day, but he finally relented about noon today, reports Politico . Cruz began speaking at 2:41pm Eastern yesterday and got some breaks from peers including Rand Paul and Mike Lee. But Cruz had...

Ted Cruz Still Standing, Reads Green Eggs and Ham

Marathon session passes 18-hour mark

(Newser) - As part of Sen. Ted Cruz's anti-ObamaCare talkathon—which he has vowed to keep up until he can no longer stand —he read the Dr. Seuss classic, Green Eggs and Ham, to his daughters. "Daddy's going to be home soon, to read to you in person,...

Cruz Vows to Speak Until 'No Longer Able to Stand'

Texas senator rails against ObamaCare, but can't actually delay vote

(Newser) - It's filibuster-y, but apparently not a filibuster. Sen. Ted Cruz took the Senate floor about 2:40pm Eastern today and promised to speak against ObamaCare until he is "no longer able to stand," reports AP . It sounds like an "old-fashioned talking filibuster," says the Washington ...

Rand Paul Says He Won't Stage Syria Filibuster

He blames media for 'misinterpretation'

(Newser) - Rand Paul wants the US to steer clear of Syria, but he says he's not planning any filibusters to make that happen, reports the Huffington Post . Paul today blamed reports to the contrary on a "misrepresentation from the media." Here's the quote from yesterday, via the...

Post-Filibuster, Wendy Davis Rakes In $1.2M

But she won't announce if she'll run for governor for a few weeks

(Newser) - If Wendy Davis does decide to make a run for governor , she'll have some cash in her pockets to help fund the way. The Texas state senator raked in $1.2 million in the six weeks following her marathon filibuster , reports Politico . Most of it came from small donors—...

Democrats Did Kill the Filibuster

 Democrats 
 Did Kill the 
 Filibuster 
OPINION
Jul 17, 2013 1:21 PM CDT

Democrats Did Kill the Filibuster

Wall Street Journal: It lives in theory but is dead in reality

(Newser) - So Harry Reid didn't exercise the "nuclear option" and thus kept intact Republicans' ability to filibuster presidential appointees, right? Wrong, declare the editors at the Wall Street Journal . Consider the filibuster dead in those situations—because what's to stop Democrats from making the same threat to kill...

Filibuster Lives: Senate Skirts 'Nuclear Option'

Most Obama picks will go through

(Newser) - The Senate's little version of the Bay of Pigs is over, and this one won't end with nukes, either. After much hemming and hawing and stern pronouncements, both sides reached a deal to avoid a showdown over filibuster rules , meaning Harry Reid won't use the so-called "...

It&#39;s Filibuster Showdown Time
 It's Filibuster Showdown Time 
Jul 16, 2013 7:30 AM CDT

It's Filibuster Showdown Time

No deal reached to avert Senate rule change

(Newser) - A historic showdown in the Senate is looming after a rare, closed-door meeting of all but two of the 100 senators failed to produce a deal to avoid a change to the chamber's rules. Unless lawmakers can hammer out a deal this morning, a vote this morning on the...

Reid, McConnell Feud Startles Chummy Senate

Senate leaders get personal over filibuster rules, 2014

(Newser) - Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell have spent a combined 60 years in the Senate, and they've generally had an amicable relationship—but no more. Sticking points include the Democrats' attempt to oust McConnell in 2014; a super PAC led by former Reid aides is working against the minority leader...

Reid Blasts Senate: It 'Doesn't Work'

Dems look to use nuclear option to (kind of) kill the filibuster

(Newser) - Harry Reid says he's ready—no really, he means it this time—to use the so-called " nuclear option " to reform the filibuster. Reid says that unless Republicans allow him to move forward on a host of Obama administration nominees, he'll use a parliamentary maneuver to change...

Wendy Davis: I've Thought About a Run for Governor

She goes on media blitz after Texas filibuster

(Newser) - Since she successfully filibustered the Texas abortion bill, Wendy Davis has been on a bit of a media blitz. Asked about her gubernatorial ambitions on MSNBC last night, the state senator noted, "You know, I would be lying if I told you that I hadn’t had aspirations to...

Meet the Texan Who Filibustered the Abortion Bill

Wendy Davis: From single teen mom to Harvard Law grad

(Newser) - So who is this Wendy Davis, the Texas Democratic state senator who had much of the country enthralled yesterday as she led a 10-hour filibuster of an abortion bill that would ban the procedure after 20 weeks? Davis, 50, was raised by a single mother and also became a single...

Texas Lawmaker Trying to Kill Abortion Bill With Filibuster

State Sen. Wendy Davis has to make it until midnight local time

(Newser) - A Texas lawmaker is trying to keep sweeping new abortion restrictions from taking effect in the state, but she'll have to stay on her feet for about 13 hours to be successful. Democrat Wendy Davis began a filibuster at 11:18am local time and needs to make it until...

Reid May Go 'Nuclear' to Reform Filibuster

Senate leader considers changing rules for nominations in July

(Newser) - Those who think abuse of the filibuster has gotten out of hand in DC should keep an eye on three upcoming Obama nominations, reports Greg Sargent at the Washington Post . If Republicans use the tactic to block the president's picks to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the labor...

GOP Senators Boycott Vote on New EPA Chief

Democrats accuse them of obstructionism

(Newser) - Republicans on the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee refused to show up yesterday for a vote to confirm President Obama's nominee to head the EPA , complaining that Gina McCarthy hadn't responded to their inquiries. "We're not asking to amend any bedrock environmental laws,"...

McConnell: I'll Filibuster Gun Control Bill

Plus, Senate Dems are scrambling to decide on which bill to push

(Newser) - A gun control bill—though it's not clear which one—is expected to hit the Senate floor this week , and the latest Republican to threaten it is Mitch McConnell. The minority leader joins a group of GOP colleagues, now numbering 13, who intend to filibuster any gun bill that...

Sens. Paul, Cruz: We'll Filibuster Gun Control

Republicans deliver warning to Harry Reid

(Newser) - If Harry Reid goes forward with a possible gun-control measure, he'll face a filibuster, say three Republican senators. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, and Mike Lee have penned a letter to the Senate majority leader, saying, "We will oppose the motion to proceed to any legislation that will serve...

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