Really... Really.... Really dumb question... GOV 101

[nickshepDEM]

How many votes does a bill need to pass through the senate?

Lets use SS for example. Bush proposes a piece of legislation to partially privatize SS. How many Senators must vote YES for the Bill to pass? 2/3? 60? Also if the Dems want to filibuster what must they do? Get 60 votes?

[jpgray]

1. 60 votes are needed for cloture

Cloture ends a debate on a bill. One filibusters a bill by delaying the vote with "debate". To pass a bill, a simple majority is all that is needed. But if you never get to the vote, a bill can never pass.

[nickshepDEM]

3. So basically ...

Since the Republicans controll 55 seats in the Senate they could pass a SS bill without any trouble and it would take effect immediatley?

[jpgray]

5. No, we would filibuster the vote

This can delay a vote indefinitely, unless there are sixty votes for cloture, which ends debate on a bill and forces a vote. So in other words, five turncoat Dems would need to be found. On Social Security, we ought to be okay.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. I can think of two turn coats off the top of my head

Feinstein and Lieberman... hey at least crazy zell is gone (but replaced by a crazier one)

[nickshepDEM]

7. At least one is looking to trade sides...

Sen. Conrad from ND says Democrats should "Look into privitization".... or something along those lines.

[BrotherBuzz]

10. As long as he continues uses the word "Privitization".....

We be secure. ;)

[Telly Savalas]

14. But will it be a party line vote?

It seems that SS demolition, more than any other issue, is a battle where we might get a few GOP Senators to break ranks, especially if we're winning the PR war on it. Hasn't Olympia Snowe already publicly stated that she's realy skeptical of the value of a SS demolition plan?

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. A simple majority

constitutional ammedments require a super majority

[caligirl]

4. 51 yes to pass, but with 41 dems saying no, they can filibuster

[TacticalPeek]

8. Going out on a pedantic limb here . . .

I believe that on a vote for passage, a bill would simply require more ayes than nays, which may technically not be a majority since Senators present may be recorded as "excused".

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/common/briefing/Enactment_law.htm#6


But to vote cloture, not only would the R's need to peel off some Zell-Miller-D's, they would also need to keep every (practically) R, which would be pretty hard to do if gutting Social Security. Hence, all the recent R hand-wringing.

[nickshepDEM]

9. What do you guys think of this list???

I came up with a list of how US senators would vote on a partial privatization of SS bill. 60 votes "YES" is needed to be filibuster proof.

Would Vote “YES” (53):

Allard, Wayne - (R - CO)
Alexander, Lamar - (R - TN)
Allen, George - (R – VA)
Bennett, Robert - (R - UT)
Brownback, Sam - (R - KS)
Bunning, Jim - (R - KY)
Burns, Conrad - (R - MT)
Burr, Richard - (R - NC)
Chambliss, Saxby - (R – GA)
Coburn, Tom - (R - OK)
Cochran, Thad - (R - MS)
Coleman, Norm - (R - MN)
Collins, Susan - (R - ME)
Cornyn, John - (R - TX)
Craig, Larry - (R - ID)
Crapo, Michael - (R - ID)
DeMint, Jim - (R - SC)
DeWine, Mike - (R - OH)
Dole, Elizabeth - (R - NC)
Domenici, Pete - (R - NM)
Ensign, John - (R - NV)
Enzi, Michael - (R - WY)
Frist, Bill - (R - TN)
Graham, Lindsey - (R - SC)
Grassley, Chuck - (R - IA)
Gregg, Judd - (R - NH)
Hagel, Chuck - (R - NE)
Hatch, Orrin - (R - UT)
Hutchison, Kay - (R - TX)
Inhofe, James - (R – OK)
Isakson, Johnny - (R - GA)
Kyl, Jon - (R - AZ)
Lott, Trent - (R - MS)
Lugar, Richard - (R - IN)
Martinez, Mel - (R - FL)
McCain, John - (R - AZ)
McConnell, Mitch - (R - KY)
Murkowski, Lisa - (R - AK)
Roberts, Pat - (R - KS)
Santorum, Rick - (R - PA)
Sessions, Jeff - (R - AL)
Shelby, Richard - (R - AL)
Smith, Gordon - (R - OR)
Snowe, Olympia - (R - ME)
Specter, Arlen - (R - PA)
Stevens, Ted - (R - AK)
Sununu, John - (R - NH)
Talent, James - (R - MO)
Thomas, Craig - (R - WY)
Thune, John - (R - SD)
Vitter, David - (R - LA)
Voinovich, George - (R - OH)
Warner, John - (R - VA)

Would Vote “NO” (38):

Akaka, Daniel - (D - HI)
Biden, Joseph - (D - DE)
Bingaman, Jeff - (D - NM)
Boxer, Barbara - (D - CA)
Byrd, Robert - (D - WV)
Cantwell, Maria - (D - WA)
Carper, Thomas - (D - DE)
Clinton, Hillary - (D – NY)
Corzine, Jon - (D - NJ)
Dayton, Mark - (D - MN)
Dodd, Christopher - (D - CT)
Dorgan, Byron - (D - ND)
Durbin, Richard - (D - IL)
Feingold, Russell - (D - WI)
Harkin, Tom - (D - IA)
Inouye, Daniel - (D - HI)
Johnson, Tim - (D - SD)
Kennedy, Edward - (D - MA)
Kerry, John - (D - MA)
Kohl, Herb - (D - WI)
Landrieu, Mary - (D - LA)
Lautenberg, Frank - (D - NJ)
Leahy, Patrick - (D - VT)
Levin, Carl - (D - MI)
Lincoln, Blanche - (D - AR)
Murray, Patty - (D - WA)
Nelson, Bill - (D - FL)
Obama, Barack - (D - IL)
Pryor, Mark - (D - AR)
Reed, Jack - (D - RI)
Reid, Harry - (D - NV)
Mikulski, Barbara - (D – MD)
Rockefeller, John - (D - WV)
Salazar, Ken - (D - CO)
Sarbanes, Paul - (D - MD)
Schumer, Charles - (D - NY)
Stabenow, Debbie - (D - MI)
Wyden, Ron - (D - OR)

Tossups (9):

Baucus, Max - (D - MT)
Bayh, Evan - (D - IN)
Conrad, Kent - (D - ND)
Feinstein, Dianne - (D - CA)
Lieberman, Joseph - (D - CT)
Nelson, Ben - (D - NE)
Bond, Christopher - (R - MO)
Chafee, Lincoln - (R - RI)
Jeffords, James - (I - VT)

[President Jesus]

11. don't forget Cheney as the 101st vote, if needed.

[nickshepDEM]

12. So...

If they get 59 votes Cheney can chime in and vote yes giving them 60 votes?

[President Jesus]

13. good question. I did some research and it appears to be "no"

It does not appear that the VP can vote for cloture like a Senator can. This makes sense since cloture on a filibuster is strictly procedural (albeit extremely important).

He does however have a vote on every bill that makes the floor.