What’s Broken
The current Senate rules haven’t been changed for decades. They just don’t work in today’s super-charged political climate. In past years, our nation was able to move forward on landmark legislation that put in place workers’ rights, civil rights, retirement security for seniors and so much more. Today, we only see outrageous obstruction, like this:
SENATORS TAKING HOSTAGES
Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) recently placed a blanket hold on over 70 nominees from the Obama administration in an attempt to force the federal government to award a $35 billion defense contract to Northrop Grumman in Alabama.
ONE SENATOR CONTROLLING THE ENTIRE SENATE
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) refused to allow any legislation to move forward that his office had personally not cleared. Instead of voting against the legislation, Senator DeMint blocked any of his colleagues from being able to vote on legislation that did not receive his okay — effectively controlling the agenda for the entire Senate.
STALLING BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION
One senator stood in the way of a vote on a bipartisan food safety bill despite the recent salmonella outbreaks that have sickened thousands. Even though Senator Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) Republican colleagues Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Richard Burr (R-NC) were co-sponsors of this important legislation, Coburn still objected to it receiving a vote. The House passed similar legislation in July of 2009.
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES PREVENTED FROM DOING THEIR JOBS
For months, the National Labor Relations Board had just two members, because of holds and threatened filibusters on nominees to fill the remaining three seats. This further delayed and denied justice for thousands of workers who were illegally fired or mistreated by employers.
In this session of Congress, the House of Representatives has passed more than 400 bills. None of these has been debated in the Senate. It’s time to change these broken Senate rules, which have put special interests above the public interest.
Jack Lew’s nomination to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, a critically important position during these difficult fiscal times, was delayed for months by a hold placed by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) who wanted to protest an entirely unrelated matter – the Obama administration’s moratorium on Gulf of Mexico deep water drilling.
