Senate Democrats Eye Filibuster Reform After Another Round of GOP Obstruction

[blue neen]

"WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans filibustered President Barack Obama's third and final nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Monday, leaving Democrats with two options for filling the court's empty seats: change the rules and take away the GOP's power to filibuster certain nominees, or call it a day."

"As expected, Republicans lined up to block a procedural vote for Robert Wilkins. His nomination needed 60 votes to advance. Instead, the Senate voted 53 to 38, with just two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), siding with Democrats to let him get a confirmation vote."

"The GOP blockade on Wilkins was no surprise. In the last month, Republicans filibustered Obama's two other D.C. Circuit nominees, Patricia Millett and Nina Pillard. They'll readily admit their opposition isn't personal; they just don't want Obama to put any of his nominees on the court. Some argue the court isn't busy enough to warrant filling its three empty seats, and others make the counterintuitive argument that Obama is "court-packing" by filling vacancies. Both arguments gloss over the fact that the president has a constitutional duty to fill empty seats on a court."

"Democrats have been warning for weeks that they're prepared to invoke the "nuclear option" and strip Republicans of their ability to block Obama's nominees if they keep filibustering. With Wilkins' vote now blocked, Democrats have to decide if they have it in them to change institutional rules that both parties are typically reluctant to mess with."

Read more at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/18/senate-filibuster-reform-dc-circuit_n_4298315.html

[blue neen]

1. Another thread on the subject:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251339982

Thanks Eugene for catching this story!

[Tx4obama]

3. And an additional thread in DU LBN too...

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014651351

[blue neen]

4. Thank you!

[Tx4obama]

2. Statement from President Obama

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
November 18, 2013

Statement by the President

I am deeply disappointed that Senate Republicans have once again refused to do their job and give well-qualified nominees to the federal bench the yes-or-no votes they deserve. The D.C. Circuit, considered the Nation’s second-highest court, has three vacancies. These are judgeships created by Congress. Chief Justice John Roberts and the Judicial Conference of the United States believe that these vacancies should be filled, not removed. And my constitutional duty as President is to nominate highly qualified individuals to fill these vacancies.

Patricia Millett, Nina Pillard, and Judge Robert Wilkins have all received the highest possible rating from the non-partisan American Bar Association. They have broad bipartisan support, and no one has questioned their merit. Yet Senate Republicans have blocked all three from receiving a yes-or-no vote. This obstruction is completely unprecedented. Four of my predecessor’s six nominees to the D.C. Circuit were confirmed. Four of my five nominees to this court have been obstructed. When it comes to judicial nominations, I am fulfilling my constitutional responsibility, but Congress is not. Instead, Senate Republicans are standing in the way of a fully-functioning judiciary that serves the American people.

The American people and our judicial system deserve better. A majority of the United States Senate supports these three extraordinary nominees, and it is time for simple yes-or-no votes without further obstruction or delay.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/11/18/statement-president

[blue neen]

5. I truly hope the Democrats go through with the filibuster reform.

It is long, long overdue.

[blue neen]

6. Elizabeth Warren: Senate has "duty" to change rules

"Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called for a Senate rules change Wednesday, calling GOP shutouts of President Barack Obama's judicial nominees "naked attempts to nullify the results of the last presidential election."

"Warren blasted her Republican colleagues on the Senate floor for their filibuster of Nina Pillard, the third of Obama's nominees to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to have her confirmation stalled."

"If Republicans continue to filibuster these highly qualified nominees for no reason other than to nullify the President's constitutional authority, then senators not only have the right to change the filibuster rules, senators have a duty to change the filibuster rules," Warren said."

"The freshman senator also turned the "court-packing" allegation leveled against President Barack Obama by the GOP on its head, accusing Senate Republicans of attempting to "rig" the lower court in favor of business interests."

Read more at:

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/warren-if-gop-continues-to-filibuster-senate-has-duty-to-change-rules

[libdem4life]

7. This ^^^^^ I just had that feeling when I heard her, on national TV, take them to the proverbial

woodshed, that something would come of this. She is doing what PBO said to we Progressives as I recall at one point...please make me do it (fill in the blank). He wasn't being smartass, I don't think. What he meant was, I need power and real support to back me up. Well Praise the Lord and Pass the Potatoes...we have Elizabeth Warren. And we are getting behind her in a real way.

She talks, and we can understand. I nominate her immediately as a replacement Secretary of 'Splaining Stuff. (the old one has Lost the Plot, MOL) She can get national press now whenever she wants it. IMO, she is amassing more power than she could ever as President. I have no doubt she will use it wisely, but very effectively.

Now, if she can only get him to take back the Chained CPI crap...I think she is already on it !!!!

[blue neen]

8. I like how you stated that.

"I have no doubt she will use it wisely, but very effectively." Amen to that!

The filibuster reform and Social Security are definitely worthy band wagons for Elizabeth to be on!

[defacto7]

9. I can "eye" a nice car....

I can "eye" a new pair of shoes...

Stop looking at the damn thing bad buy it, dammit!

[brooklynite]

10. I've reached out to my contacts at Senate leadership...

...and told them that delaying reform of Senate rules has to stop.

[Arkana]

11. Fuck the Democrats. I'll believe it when I see it.

They've played Charlie Brown to Mitch McConnell's Lucy way too often. Fucking Harry Reid will just make another "informal agreement" that McConnell will break at the earliest opportunity.

[winter is coming]

12. Stop "eyeing" it. Cross the room and ask it to dance.