Politico: Three Democrats Demand Filibuster Vote

[flpoljunkie]

3 Dems demand filibuster vote

By: Scott Wong
January 24, 2011 07:06 PM EST

The three Democrats who proposed sweeping changes to Senate filibuster rules balked Monday at a scaled-down package negotiated by Senate leaders and called for a vote this week on their own reform plan.

Sens. Tom Udall of New Mexico, Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Tom Harkin of Iowa are adamant that their proposal can be adopted by a simple majority of 51 senators rather than the usual 67 required for rules changes, using a controversial legislative tool known as the “constitutional option.”

“Senator Udall and others are still advocating for the strongest package that can be put forward. That is still the goal,” said Udall spokeswoman Marissa Padilla. “There is no doubt that rules reform is a heavy lift but they are in it for the long haul, trying to make the Senate more transparent and efficient in how it operates.”

It’s unclear, however, if all the talk is simply posturing. And others have warned that invoking the constitutional option – and holding a party-line vote on the changes – could come back to haunt Democrats if they lose the majority in 2012, leaving Republicans with broad authority to set rules.

When their caucus meets for the first time Tuesday after a two-week recess, top Democrats hope that Udall, Merkley and Harkin recognize that their effort lacks 51 votes, abandon their push, and live with the more modest changes.

more...

[xchrom]

1. good for them. nt