Senate Leaves Filibuster Largely Intact
Posted at 8 a.m. on Jan. 25
“The Senate approved changes to the filibuster Thursday night, adopting modest limits on the partisan obstruction that has ground action in the chamber to a near standstill,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Senators gave up their ability to filibuster…on the procedural step required to take up legislation on the Senate floor. In exchange, both sides were guaranteed the right to offer two amendments to the bill.”
“If a nominee can clear the 60-vote threshold to end a filibuster, debate time will be reduced from 30 hours to two for district court judges and to eight hours for sub-Cabinet positions… Another provision reduces the number of filibusters that can be used to delay a conference committee, which is needed to reconcile differences between House- and Senate-passed bills.”
Ezra Klein looks at what reforms didn’t make it into the deal.
