News
Fix the Senate Now Leaders Call for Reforms to “Break the Logjam” on Obstructed Nominees
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013
Eight years ago this month, the Republican Senate Majority under then Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TX) was committed to change the Senate rules to get nominations confirmed for President George W. Bush. The eventual Gang of 14 agreement over nominees helped to break the Senate logjam and move qualified nominations forward.
Senate Rules Reform – the Weekly Recap, May 17, 2013
Friday, May 17th, 2013
In addition to coverage of obstruction and threats to nominations for the National Labor Relations Board, Environmental Protection Agency nominee Gina McCarty and Department of Labor Nominee Thomas E. Perez, a series of news articles focused directly on whether Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) would revisit reopening rules reform.
Senate Rules Reform – the Weekly Recap, May 10, 2013
Friday, May 10th, 2013
Obstruction in the Senate reached another unprecedented level this week, with Senate Republicans hurling back-to-back procedural delays at Cabinet-level nominees Thomas Perez at the Department of Labor and Gina McCarthy at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Senate GOP Makes Case for Senate Rules Reform with Procedural Tricks to Slow Labor, EPA Nominations
Thursday, May 9th, 2013
With their back-to-back procedural delays injected into the nominations process for Cabinet-level nominees Thomas Perez at the Department of Labor and Gina McCarthy at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Senate Republicans have taken Senate obstruction to new levels in the past 24 hours, the Fix the Senate Now coalition said today.
ICYMI: On Nominees, New Poll Finds Small Business Owners Want Senate Action, Not Senate Obstruction
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
The Small Business Majority today released a new poll showing that small business owners nationwide are tired of gridlock and obstruction in the U.S. Senate and want their lawmakers to advance and provide an “up or down” vote on nominees.
Senate Rules Reform – the Weekly Recap, May 3, 2013
Friday, May 3rd, 2013
As the American public continues to express frustration with the way the Senate’s rules helped to derail the popular Manchin-Toomey background check amendment, the attention has started to broaden to other areas of unprecedented obstruction in the Senate chamber.
Why We Still Need U.S. Senate Rules Reform
Friday, April 26th, 2013
From pressing legislation to judicial vacancies to executive branch nominations, nearly every major policy issue in Washington is being affected by actual or threatened obstruction in the U.S. Senate.
Senate Rules Reform – the Weekly Recap, April 22, 2013
Monday, April 22nd, 2013
Senate rules reform received a jolt of energy this past week following the defeat of the bi-partisan Manchin-Toomey background check amendment.
ICYMI: President Obama and Senators Highlight Rules Reform In Reaction to Failed Gun plan
Thursday, April 18th, 2013
In reaction to yesterday’s failed passage of the Manchin-Toomey Amendment despite garnering a majority of 54 votes, both President Obama and Senators weighed in on the issue of Senate rules reform to highlight the role of procedural manipulation that led to the defeat of the popular provision.
Failure of Background Check Amendment Shows Need for Senate Reform
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013
Because of the threat of a filibuster, the U.S. Senate today failed to pass the Manchin-Toomey amendment to expand background checks for certain types of gun sales, blocking the amendment by a 54-46 margin.
Senate Rules Reform – the Weekly Recap, April 12, 2013
Friday, April 12th, 2013
From gun legislation to judicial vacancies to nominations to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), nearly every major policy issue in Washington is being affected by actual or threats of obstruction in the U.S. Senate. As a result, Senate rules reform remains a hot topic of conversation.
Senate Rules Reform – the Weekly Recap, April 5, 2013
Friday, April 5th, 2013
Following the recent withdrawal of Caitlin Halligan’s nomination to the D.C. Court of Appeals after encountering filibuster threats last month, U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Sri Srinivasan was nominated to fill the vacancy earlier this week.
Senate Rules Reform – the Weekly Recap, March 29, 2013
Friday, March 29th, 2013
A range of observers this week, including Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), continued to highlight the need for Senate rules reform, in order to raise the costs of obstruction and in order to improve the basic functioning of government.
Senate Rules Reform – the Weekly Recap, March 22, 2013
Friday, March 22nd, 2013
On Wednesday, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) bemoaned the slow pace of deliberation in the Senate, and noted that a way to remedy the obstruction is to consider “changing the rules”. Later that day, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) hinted at re-visiting rules reform on the Senate floor.
Senate Rules Reform – the Weekly Recap, March 15, 2013
Friday, March 15th, 2013
Senate rules reform remained a hot topic this week, spurred by continued attention to the rare sight of Senator Rand Paul’s “talking filibuster” and a gathering array of voices calling on Democrats to re-open Senate rules reform in light of continued Republican threats of filibuster on other nominees.
Senate Rules Reform – the Weekly Recap
Friday, March 8th, 2013
The issue of filibuster reform re-emerged into the spotlight this week, in large part because of two contrasting filibusters deployed on Wednesday.
Hagel Filibuster a Reminder of Missed Senate Rules Reform Opportunity & Need for Revisit
Friday, February 15th, 2013
The unprecedented Republican filibuster of Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel highlights why the U.S. Senate still needs to enact more substantial rules reform, the Fix the Senate Now coalition said today.
CWA: Filibuster of Hagel Nomination Shows Why We Still Need Meaningful Senate Rules Reform
Friday, February 15th, 2013
The news that Senate Republicans are planning to filibuster the nomination of Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense highlights the missed opportunity for enacting more substantial Senate rules reform at the start of this 113th Congress, said the Communications Workers of America.
Now It’s Official: Leaders Offer More Reaction to Senate’s Missed Opportunity for Real Change
Friday, January 25th, 2013
Today, leaders and principals involved in the Fix the Senate Now coalition offered further reaction, after the Senate made the agreement official last evening.
Another Missed Opportunity to Deliver Meaningful Change to U.S. Senate
Thursday, January 24th, 2013
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) are close to finalizing a deal on Senate rules reform. Unfortunately, the incremental “reforms” in the agreement do not go nearly far enough to deliver meaningful change, the Fix the Senate Now coalition said today.
