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| Harry Reid. Flickr CC via Cheryl Biren |
The filibuster
levels have gotten senate majority leader Harry Reid frustrated.
Frustrated enough to change the rules on how many votes are needed to
stop debates and vote to confirm federal judicial nominees.
Laws and motions
passed in the senate has steadily decreased in recent years. The current session of congress has passed about
a third of Truman’s “Do Nothing” congress.
It is understandable why drastic measures are being considered. Some analysts do not find the change dramatic
at all, citing that the constitution was set up for a simple majority to be
able to pass any measure. Others say
that 60 votes have always been needed to confirm a presidential nomination, and
that Reid’s change in the rules is breaking a precedent that is over 200 years
old.
Senator Reid proposed the change in filibuster policy in
July, but minority leader Mitch McConnell and Senator John McCain prevented it
from being enacted after a fierce media storm.
The debate ended in a deal where Republicans agreed to stop
filibustering on a handful of nominees and allow the democrats to confirm
them.
The new rule does
not apply for Supreme Court nominations, but some worry that the policy will
come back to punish Democrats if the Republicans take the majority in
2014. It is also being seen as a
power-grab by Democrats, which may affect sentiments from voters.
While the change is
being debated on whether it was the right choice, Harry Reid’s actions are
another illustration of the feverish divide in congress today. A recent poll from the Heartland Monitor
shows that congress’ approval rating is less than ten percent.
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| Gallup Poll Shows approval for Congress at 9% |
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