The main component of the Merkley-Udall approach is the talking filibuster, which still enables the minority to filibuster legislation but would require them to do so by actually standing and speaking on the floor.
Not surprisingly, the combination of Republican Sen. John McCain, Democratic Sen. Carl Levin and a few other senators are trying to throw a monkey wrench into the gears of progress by offering a largely watered down alternate proposal. The Democratic majority needs to throw this proposal that basically preserves this deadly filibuster, into the Senate incinerator.
Another article on this subject, written by Rob Kall of Opednews, can be found at this link. It explains in greater detail the alternate proposal by McCain and Levin and I especially like the part which says, "Levin's been a Republican enabler on other occasions. Too bad the Democrat party protects incumbents, regardless of how badly they screw the middle class." To that I might add that there are a few other Democrats that also need to be targeted and replaced, beginning with Harry Reid if he, once again, caves in to the GOP and fails to do everything in his power to bring about filibuster reform.
I can't possibly stress the importance of this issue to any greater degree. This U.S. Senate, terribly ineffective and unproductive, sits at a critical crossroads. It can either climb out of the deep hole into which it has dug itself, and finally do the business of the nation and its people, or it can continue its downward slide.
Right now, considering the many needs of the American people and problems in this society, there is nothing more important than filibuster reform.
Michael Payne
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