Filibuster Fix

[SoCalDem]

It's easy as pie..

Each "congress" is 2 years long

There are democrats
There are republicans
There are a few nominal "independents"

there is a majority
there is a minority

51/49 should be the "winning" goal

Just give the minority 3 "F" passes per congress

Make them use them wisely and when they are gone, they don't get anymore.

If they want to waste them on frivolous stuff, so be it.

They do not carryover.

In sports there are no unlimited time-outs..

[BzaDem]

1. That wouldn't work, since the majority could just re-pass the filibustered bill with a word changed

later.

Make no mistake -- I'd much rather have no filibuster than everything filibustered. I'm just saying the way you try to draw a line between them doesn't make sense.

[SoCalDem]

3. I would rather have none as well, but they are so afraid of how things would be

if they lost the majority (both sides fear this) so they always back off.. Dems rarely ever used in (in modern times)..republicans have made it an artform:grr:

[DrDan]

2. also a page out of football's instant replay decisions

only so many allocated - and need to be chosen carefully.

Not perfect - but a step forward. Takes away a bit of the homefield advantage - which never seems to favor the voters.

[baldguy]

4. The filibuster rule does need to be changed.

1) No more "virtual" filibusters. To hold up the works, a Senator needs to stand up, be recognized and hold the floor - and not sit down.

2) Change the number of votes needed for cloture. Start at 60, but if the filibuster doesn't gain support over time, reduce it in steps to a simple majority. If the filibuster does gain support, then it succeeds.

3) A bill can only be filibustered once.

4) Procedural votes cannot be filibustered.

5) Bills coming from the conference committee cannot be filibustered.

[badtoworse]

5. If you are going to fantasize, you should dream bigger

What you are suggesting would require a constitutional amendment. Good luck with that.

[Bandit]

6. How do you figure?

The Constitution is quite plain in that the Senate is to establish it's own rules. It does so at the beginning of each new Congress, which is every two years, and as the very first order of business of the New Senate it can establish it's rules by majority vote. How do you get that a Constitutional amendment would be needed?

[SoCalDem]

7. and the vice president (as president of the senate) can preside

or so someone said a few weeks ago on cspan.

[badtoworse]

9. I misread your post. After rereading, I agree it could be done...

It might actually be funny seeing McConnell throwing a red flag on the Senate floor.

[mmonk]

8. Just in time when Democrats are less.