WV Citizen Action Group
Action Alert

January 3,
2013
 Alert Archive

Act Now to Fix the Filibuster

We’ve been working hard to hold our legislators’ feet to the fire on ending the Bush tax cuts for Millionaires and protecting and strengthening Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits.

Imagine, though, if we would have been able to get these important issues resolved months ago—or at least had Senator’s votes on these critical issues on record so voters knew where they stood on these issues before the elections.

Well, we now have a chance to make that happen. The Senate is considering a filibuster reform bill that would make it once again a tool of empowerment, rather than just a cheap scare tactic used to block anything the minority doesn’t like. Our founders set up majority rule in the Senate. The way things are now, its takes a supermajority of 60% - 60 votes to pass anything out of the Senate. If this bill is passed, we’ll fix one of the major problems contributing to the gridlock that has taken over Washington, DC.

Call 1-866-937-5062 or text FIXTHESENATE to 69866 and tell your senators you support Senate rules reform, including returning to a talking filibuster, and they should, too.

 

 

For too long now, the filibuster has been misused and abused. It used to be an important tool to give the Senate minority a voice. But not anymore.

Congress has stopped legislating effectively, with senators using ridiculous dodge tactics to block real progress on bills that would create good jobs, end the Bush tax cuts for the richest 2%, stop rewarding companies that outsource jobs and other important legislative initiatives.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and extreme legislators in the Senate made a “gentlemen’s agreement” before the start of the last legislative session that they wouldn’t abuse the filibuster to block debate on bills.

But that promise was quickly broken, and over the last two years more motions were made to prevent bills from being openly debated than during any other congressional session in history.

Right now, all it takes is a handful of senators to stop the rest from making progress. With reform, we can restore the filibuster to its original purpose. But we’ve got to stand up and fight for that reform.

Call 1-866-937-5062 or text FIXTHESENATE to 69866 and tell your senators you support Senate rules reform, including returning to a talking filibuster, and they should, too.

Thank you for helping to protect our democracy.

In unity,

Gary Zuckett

P.S. To find out more about Senate rules reform, visit FixTheSenateNow.org and help us debunk the myths surrounding filibuster reform.

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