Durbin: Criticism that Reid gutted gun bill is ‘baloney’

[Eugene]

Source: The Hill

Durbin: Criticism that Reid gutted gun bill is 'baloney'

By Erik Wasson - 03/20/13 11:18 AM ET

The second-ranking Democrat in the Senate on Wednesday defended Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) decision to keep an assault rifle ban out of a package of gun legislation coming to the Senate floor.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said that any suggestion that Reid had gutted the bill was “baloney.”

“Harry Reid had to make a calculation. And here’s the calculation. To bring any bill to floor takes 60 votes in the Senate,” said Durbin. “If you leave the assault weapon ban in the bill, can you get 60 votes?

“What he is doing is reflecting the reality that you need 60 votes to open debate,” he added.

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Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/289255-durbin-criticism-that-reid-gutted-gun-bill-is-baloney

[Still Sensible]

1. While Durbin's statement is undeniably true,

it reminds us of the utter failure on Reid's part to fix the damn filibuster rule!

While it is certainly an ongoing problem on legislation such as this, I am even madder about the way the minority is able to delay and/or outright kill the president's appointments.

[MotherPetrie]

2. Exactly. It's like Reid wanted to keep that rule to cover his own ass.

[premium]

4. In this instance, the filibuster wouldn't have mattered,

Sen. Feinstein acknowledged yesterday that she didn't even have 40 votes for her AWB, that means that a whole bunch of Dems told her that they would oppose the AWB and the mag limit.

Sen. Feinstein knew from the start that another AWB was a long shot in the Senate and no chance in the House.
But, I do admire her tenacity in the face of certain defeat.

[karynnj]

12. In that case, I can see why Reid simply accepted reality

There is no hope of shifting over 20 votes to get the 60 needed. In fact, even if there was no filibuster at all, there is little hope of shifting 10 Senators - especially for a bill that would have no chance in the Republican House. What is completely sad is that a very high percent of the people want this. (It's too bad there are not referendum votes on the federal level!)

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. Yes but

Any legislation would still have to go through the House too and an AWB is going to get (pardon the pun) shot down there even if it gets through the Senate. Better IMHO to focus on things like universal background checks and other things that stand a better chance of passage.

[Still Sensible]

7. That's the reason I'm more upset by the lack of

filibuster reform as it stymies presidential appointments. The fact is, with this house any legislation coming out of the senate is unlikely to get house approval. On the other hand, filibuster reform could ease the appointment mess because there is no house involvement.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. Didn't think about that

but you're right about the appointment mess.......

[Wellstone ruled]

3. Harry Reid got his ass handed to him in Vegas the other day.

All the gun rights idiots nail him,it's all about getting people or buds elected.

[premium]

6. He sure did.

His and Heller's offices have been swamped with calls and e-mails opposing the AWB and the mag limit.
Harry has always been a strong proponent of the 2A and he can read the writing on the wall, the votes aren't there for an AWB and a mag limit.

[otohara]

16. They Are A Small Noisy Group

there was ads plastered all over the Denver Post opposing the bills....I looked at the Facebook page of this group and they only had 29 followers.

If we swamped the phone lines and wrote actual e-mails....who knows what might happen?

I spent weeks writing calling writing calling every lawmaker in CO many times. I'd like to think my efforts paid off.

[The Magistrate]

8. The Problem, Sir, Is That It is A Poor Political Calculation

It often pays better to fight and lose than to not fight at all. When popular support for something is very high, as it is in this case, certainly with background checks and magazine restrictions, it can be quite useful to make people publicly vote on a thing, and demonstrate that the legislature will not do what the people want done....

[Kurska]

11. They are going to vote on it, as an amendment, not as part of the main bill. n/t

[karynnj]

13. Respectfully, you COULD make that argument for allowing a (domed) vote on it as an amendment

- if there is a bill that could pass without it.

Then you get BOTH the vote putting people on record and whatever useful things you can pass.

[hack89]

14. I think the political calculation centered on 2014 Senate elections

too many Dems from pro-gun conservative states up for reelection. I think Reid is protecting them.

There will be a vote on other gun control measures which should pass not that they are not coupled to the AWB.

[jinx1]

10. What about bringing each piece up separately?

I though that if there were several bill to work through the Senate it would disclose what each Senator is willing to go down for and those separate votes could be use at election time...a BIG plus.

[CobaltBlue]

15. Ah, but . . .

Ah, but Dick Durbin whipped against the public option in the Affordable Health Care Bill (2010).



So, why should anyone trust him?

[backscatter712]

17. The thing is that Reid can count votes.

It'd be awfully embarrassing if the Dems couldn't even get 50 votes, in which case we need to start primarying DINOs. But Reid wants to get 50 votes, maybe 60 if a few Republicans have an unpsychotic episode. That way, he can get votes on record, claim that he'd have a law if it weren't for those filibustering Republicans, and take that on the campaign trail.

Rule #1 of politics : Pick your battles wisely.