Court rejects appeal over Senate filibuster rules

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-EXCITE

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from a public interest group and four members of Congress who challenged the Senate filibuster as unconstitutional.

The justices let stand a lower court ruling that said Common Cause and the lawmakers did not have legal standing to pursue the case.

The plaintiffs argued that Senate rules requiring at least 60 votes to bring legislation to a vote violates the constitutional principle of majority rule. A federal appeals court said the lawsuit was filed against the wrong parties.

The case was brought against Vice President Joe Biden in his role as president of the Senate, and against the Senate's secretary, parliamentarian and sergeant at arms.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141103/us-supreme-court-filibusters-c249a3d3ae.html

[gerogie2]

1. The courts are not...

going to attempt to set the rules of the Congress. Was this a lawyer employment act by those boneheaded litigants?

[longship]

2. Yup! The constitution is pretty clear on who makes the rules in congress.

This is an easy call.

[belzabubba333]

3. who they ought to sue is harry reid

[jeff47]

4. That'll also lose.

The Constitution says that Congress gets to set its rules.

And unless the rule is explicitly discriminatory, such as "only male senators can vote", then the courts are not going to get involved.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

7. +1 ...

... I just love all the, "edumacting", that goes on at this site. Seriously.

[FBaggins]

5. They would have lost even if they had standing

There is no "constitutional principle of majority rule".

[PoliticAverse]

6. The Senate could change the rule at any time with a simple majority.

For example:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/senate-democrats-vote-to-change-filibuster-rules/

[davidpdx]

8. It's the right outcome

We just have to realize we have set a precedent with the change in rules. As soon as the Republicans get control of the Senate (God forbid it happens again in my lifetime), we all know they will do it.