Senate leaders reach filibuster reform deal

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While the Senate leaders were able to reach a bi-partisan agreement to adjust some filibuster rules on Jan. 24, the measures won't stop individual senators from blocking nominations or pieces of legislation, or change the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster.

Jan. 24, 2013, 8:31 p.m.

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The new rules would allow Senate leaders to force an end to filibusters if they reach an agreement to do so, along with the backing of 7 senators from each party. "Hopefully, what we'll do here will stop some of the abuse," said Sen. Reid.

Jan. 24, 2013, 8:23 p.m.

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"I'm not personally … ready to get rid of the 60-vote threshold… we have to understand the Senate isn't and shouldn't be like the House."

– Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Majority Leader

The agreement mostly aims to reduce inaction at the beginning of debates, and after a bill passes the Senate before going to the House. The number of filibusters aimed to avoid conferencing with House members would be reduced from 3 to 1.

Jan. 24, 2013, 8:22 p.m.

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To speed up the legislative process, a 2 day waiting rule to defeat a filibuster would be reduced to 1 day after Senate leaders reach an agreement on "non-controversial" bills and nominations. Under these conditions, once a filibuster is beaten, the Senate could begin debating immediately instead waiting for 30 hours.

Jan. 24, 2013, 8:24 p.m.

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Also in the event of a filibuster the Majority leader can move to a "motion to proceed" by letting each party add two relevant amendments to the bill. This does not remove the ability to filibuster the bill itself.

Jan. 24, 2013, 8:52 p.m.

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The use of filibusters has increased over the last half-century, rising from a handful every year in the 1960s to more than 400 since Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) became majority leader 6 years ago.

Jan. 23, 2013, 4:14 p.m.

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The plan hopes to end gridlock when it comes to presidential nominations that don't involve cabinet-level positions. After a filibuster is defeated under the new rules, debates over judicial nominees and lower-level positions would be limited.

Jan. 24, 2013, 8:04 p.m.

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Source: en.wikipedia.org

Senators Tom Udall, D-NM, (pictured) and Jeff Merkley, D-OR, have pushed to use the Senate's ability to change filibuster rules by a simple majority vote, which it can only do at the start of a new Congress. Called the "nuclear" or "constitutional" option, this approach would most likely succeed and would only require 51 votes.

Jan. 23, 2013, 4:07 p.m.

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Leaders avoided the so-called "nuclear option" over fears that making the change to a simple majority vote could be dangerous in the future and threaten protections for the minority party. Sen. Reid had threatened Republicans with a "24 to 36 hours" deadline on Jan. 23.

Jan. 24, 2013, 8:04 p.m.

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Rand Paul, R-KY, has become the first Senator to launch a talking filibuster in two years on March 6, using the tactic to show his opposition to the nomination of John Brennan for CIA Director and to the use of aerial drones by the Obama administration.

March 6, 2013, 7:52 p.m.

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