Instead of eliminating the filibuster altogether ...

[Jeebo]

... why not allocate it, like time-outs in a football game? Let's say, three filibusters allowed during the two-year legislative session, for each political party that has at least 40 seats in the Senate? This would force a return to the old days, when the filibuster was used only sparingly, to halt a bill or nominee that the filibustering party found particularly objectionable. It was, I think, the late 1990s or early 20-aughts when the Republicons started relentlessly filibustering EVERYTHING the Democrats tried to do as the majority party. Allocating a limited number of filibusters would be particularly appropriate and workable in a 50-50 Senate, and it might be a way of getting filibuster reform past reluctant Democrats like Manchin. Am I the only person who has thought of this as a realistic option?

-- Ron

[Midnightwalk]

1. In the end the filibuster would be a delay

The house could put up a different version of a bill and run the filibuster count to zero.

I like the idea of expanding reconciliation to allow more than one bill, but I don’t know if what that would take. Whether a simple majority in the senate could change that rule.

I do like the upsides of getting rid of the filibuster completely, but like you say it might be easier to get the votes if it was limited either your way or mine.

[moose65]

2. The majority party doesn't need a filibuster

In this case, the Democrats don't need to use a filibuster. The filibuster is a tool for the minority to use. Its original purpose was to make sure that the minority voice was heard.

[Jeebo]

3. That would be true in a 58-42 Senate.

It might be true in a 53-47 or 52-48 Senate. But I don't think it's an issue in a 50-50 Senate. Peeling off just one Senator from the other party gets you to 51-49 and then the majority party might want to filibuster. Besides which, my suggestion applies to either party relentlessly filibustering EVERYTHING and bringing the whole Senate, the entire legislative process, to a screeching halt. That's the problem my suggestion attempts to fix. If the majority party doesn't want or need to use its allotment of filibusters, that's OK. Just like a football team not needing to use all of its time-outs.

-- Ron