Filibuster Reform Effort Falls Short In Senate

Source: Talking Points Memo

An effort to change the Senate's filibuster rules on a majority-vote basis ended Tuesday evening under growing pressure from Democratic and Republican party leaders.

In its place, senators from both parties will soon consider a bipartisan framework, negotiated by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), which include a handful of more modest reforms.
....
Sens. Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and several allies had hoped to invoke the "Constitutional Option" -- a process that would have allowed them to change the rules (to whatever degree) at the beginning of this session of Congress. Udall in particular wanted to re-establish the precedent for its own sake -- to put the Senate on notice that there are consequences to abusing the rules.

But when support for that option diminished, and opposition intensified, the reformers gave way to their leaders. Though it's unlikely that any rules changes would have occurred without Udall's efforts, any changes to the rules will be invoked through the standard process.

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/filibuster-reform-effort-falls-short.php

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Dammit.

Translation: Yhe Republicans will get what they want and we're screwed

A sincere effort to fix that which is broken fails. A repeat of 2010 legislative inaction looms.

When the Republicans take back the Senate, they'll be under no such qualms of riling up Democrats. They'll push everyone of these initiatives and then some. I really hope Obama didn't push this with the Senate leadership.

Oh well, gridlock continues.

Even with a majority, they are unable to muster the votes, to ride one of the most abused procedures in the senate , which spoilt the last term of the democratic senate and with it, brought great harm to the democratic party.

When people think you can govern with a huge majority why would they let you govern at all

own medicine when the roles are reversed....

bipartisanship by giving the republikkans everything they want.

a spine when it comes to fights

Some reform is better than none at all (I keep telling myself). And there's some consolation in knowing that minority power would be there should we lose the Senate — which I doubt we will anytime soon.