When repugs control the Senate, it takes 50 votes to pass things - when dems control the Senate,

[yojon]

it takes 60. Remember all those threats of 'nuclear option' when the dems where talking about filibustering some of schimp's more grotesque nominations?

I dont recall the Constitution being changed. Wonder what happened??

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Bush is president

the only reason they are saying they need 60 votes is to override a veto.

[RoyGBiv]

3. 2/3rds ...

Overriding a veto requires a 2/3 majority of filled seats. FWIW.

The "60" number is the votes needed to invoke cloture.

[Selatius]

6. Nobody has gotten 2/3rds majority since, I believe, FDR's days with the Dems in power.

The Republicans destroyed themselves during the Great Depression when their laissez-faire economic policy wasn't what the people wanted.

[GeorgeGist]

7. 67

[endarkenment]

9. Uh no - the OP is correct.

While the veto is a 2/3 hurdle, the 60 vote requirement is for cutting off debate - for ending fillibusters. When the republicans controlled congress they effectively took away the fillibuster option by threatening to change the rules if the Democrats used it. Rather than calling their bluff, our leaders refused to fillibuster in almost every case. Now that we control the senate, being nice and everything, all that has been forgotten and the Republicans now routinely fillbuster legislation they do not want to vote on, and we meekly accept their fillibusters. The OP is entirely correct.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. Ok, now I get it

I was wondering because I was thinking it was 2/3 to override. Thanks for clarifying.

[Selatius]

2. Republicans are very aggressive. They have good strategy in forcing things through.

If the Dems filibustered as much as the Repubs have filibustered since January, I don't think people would keep saying Dems stand for nothing.

When the Repubs had to deal with Clinton, they picked a fight over welfare reform, and Clinton eventually signed it into law, and they again picked a fight over the balance budget act, which shut down the government several times.

[cassiepriam]

4. I've been wondering the same thing. How come the rules changed now that Dems are in.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Takes 51 votes to pass anything, but 60 to bring cloture and 67 to override a veto.

Nothing's changed.

[endarkenment]

11. Well yes it has changed.

As the OP notes, our leaders timidly refused to use their power of fillibuster, their leaders use this routinely. That is a huge difference. Bush should have to veto legislation every damn day of the week. Instead Congress appears to be doing nothing, and that is exactly what the Republicans will run on against this congress in 08.

[Traveling_Home]

8. Ya know what I think

"I dont recall the Constitution being changed. Wonder what happened??"

Gang of 12 is no more

[Hippo_Tron]

10. We have 49 votes, the GOP had 55

Tim Johnson is still recovering and Joe Lieberman votes with the GOP on everything except organizing. The Republicans had 55 seats last Congress. It's a hell of a lot easier to get things done when you have 55 instead of 49.

[Bitwit1234]

12. You are not understanding --

It takes 60 votes to bring a bill to cloture or vote in the senate. It only takes 1 majority vote for it to pass once it has been given a chance to be voted on.

What is happening is, the republicans, knowing the democrats do not have the 60 votes to over ride the objection to bring it out of committee are constantly voting no to bringing it to a vote. This is what is making the democrats look bad.

[snowbear]

13. Boy, you can say that AGAIN....

Someone definitely doesn't understand how a majority party with an administration of the SAME PARTY effects things!!!

Sheesh..

..

[LiberalFighter]

14. Republican Congress more likely to pass legislation a Republican President will sign.

[onenote]

16. a little research may surprise you

Thus far, there have been around 30 votes for cloture in the Senate since the 110th Cong. convened. Cloture has been successfully invoked in more than half of the cases.

In comparison, during 2006, over a comparable period of time (Jan - June), cloture was voted on only around 20 times. And it failed slightly more than half the time.