http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/120329-levin-filibuster-reform-more-likely-after-tuesday-voteLevin: Filibuster reform more likely after Tuesday's failed Defense vote
By J. Taylor Rushing - 09/22/10 03:58 PM ET
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin said Tuesday's failed cloture vote on a military policy bill has strengthened Democratic hopes to change the chamber's filibuster rules next year.
Levin said the 56-43 vote on a Defense Department authorization bill should have passed even though Republicans blocked it.
"I don't think a filibuster before has ever prevented the Senate from getting to a defense authorization," Levin said. "These filibusters on motions to proceed cannot be allowed to prevent us from getting our work done."
Democratic Conference Vice Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) held a Rules Committee hearing Wednesday on ideas to change the Senate's filibuster rules. The hearing - the committee's fifth on the topic - featured Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)), who has been pushing for filibuster reform since 1995.
Levin said Tuesday's vote was "a very powerful argument for why we should change the rules.""I believe in protecting the rights of the minority party, but the problem is that the Republicans have nee using the rules to prevent any debate... That's something I hope we can change one way or another."