Biden: Abuse of Filibuster Worst He's Seen

(CBS)  The Senate's frequent use of the filibuster, a procedural tool used to block legislative progress, represents a "fundamental shift" in Congress, Vice President Joe Biden said today on "Face the Nation."

The Republican minority in the Senate has used the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to bypass, to block significant bills like the Democrats' health care reform package.

"Most people would agree that the United States Senate has never acted as consistently as they have to require a supermajority, that is 60 votes, to get anything done," Biden said. "That's a fundamental shift. I was there for 36 years. I don't ever recall it being abused and used as much as it has now."

With only 59 votes in their caucus, Democrats now need the support of at least one Republican to move any bill forward.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid surprised his colleagues last week when he jettisoned a jobs package with some Republican support in favor of putting forward a leaner bill more strictly focused on job creation.

Even though it is unclear whether Reid's new bill will win enough votes to pass, Biden said today, "I think it is going somewhere."

"No one ever thought there would be one single job bill," Biden said. "We thought this spring it will be a series of initiatives to promote American workers, to provide access to good jobs, and to provide access to credit which a lot of small businesses are credit worthy are being strangled. So this is a process. It's beginning."

[Heathergreeneyes]

I am a little confused. Didn't the Democrats use the fillerbuster during the Bush administration? Didn't the Democrats block and oppose virtually every Bush administration bill or policy?

So why is it that after just one year, Republicans are called the party of no? It seems that title should go to Democrats, until the republicans can get at least eight years of saying no under their belt!

It seems to me that what Democrats want is one set of laws for when they are the majority party and then another set of laws for when they are the minority party.

That way the fillerbuster is bad if Democrats are the majority, but it becomes good if they are the minority!

I also do not get this party of no concept. The Democrats have (had) a larger majority in both houses then Bush ever had! Yet republicans got bills passed and Democrats can't!

The reality is that the worse enemy of a Democrat bill is other Democrats! I do not see how they can blame Republicans when they can not even get the votes of their own party!

[noloyalisti]

There is nothing wrong with discussing compromises with another party. However, the current Republican Party is not that party. You cannot make compromises with these people who supported Bush Cheney. Their ideas are all wrong and extremist.

We the People don't want their ideas, that is why they are no longer in power. We do not want to negotiate with these extremists so it is time to stop trying. This GOP party is no longer useful in any way. Democrats, either govern, follow the progressives or get out of the way.

[jgg000101]

you better do it fast because you guys are toast.

[newsterl]

The Republican minority in the Senate has used the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to bypass, to block significant bills like the Democrats' health care reform package. "

Time to eliminate the filibuster as THEY once threatened to do during the Bush regime when they rubber stamped everything King george wanted.

[Zann-Zel]

What good is voting?
The country voted in the Democrats and they voted OUT the Republicans!
This fillibuster thing is ridiculous - just another way to keep a persons vote from meaning anything at all! : (

What happened to being decent? The republicans were voted out and they should step aside and let the democrats do what they think is right. Then next election if they don't like it, point it out then!

[alanrobisch]

you may not remember but the same democrats were planning to use the filibuster to block supreme court nominees. Biden is reflecting whose ox is being gored and BTW it might be that this is polarized because the democrats are trying to pass laws that are huge changes that run contrary to basic values of the opponents. Note it appeared a commonly supported job bill was cut off at the pass by Reid and that opposition to the trying of KSM in a civilian court is being opposed in a bipartisan manner and a good chance that congress will refuse to fund the trials.

[louiville35]

That and the current health care filibuster actually represents the majority of Americans opinion who do not want this current Health Care pork/graft laden bill.

So most Americans vote is working, thanks to republicans.

[nottellin1]

Interesting that the problem is viewed as too many filibusters instead of a problem of too far left wing bills that the 60 were lining up to ram through??? I see far too much abuse of power on both sides. Finally a truely bipartisan abuse of power!!

[louiville35]

by skyk-2009 February 15, 2010 2:16 PM EST
nottellin1, the filibuster was used 112 TIMES!!
==============================================================

So? The big question is how many bills were stopped, answer none.

The filibuster helps minorities, you know let's say 51 of white senators wanted to make black people payback ALL the welfare money they received, without a filibuster a quick vote and wala black would have to pay. A filibuster just delays the bill long enough for Americans to get a chance to see what is really being passed. Without it get ready to be railroaded. Just think Jim Crow laws coming back, separate washrooms.............

[jimbom121]

Jim Crow laws coming back...I thought only the Tea Partiers want those back.

[iirishamerican]

Abuse of the white house the worst I've seen yet.

[jimbom121]

You were obviously asleep from 2001-2009

[patsy_owens]

The Republiklans care nothing about the American people. All they care about is just win at any cost...Including blocking anything that will benefit the American people.

I know this much...they can block all they want...When the Obama stimulus money is removed from State budgets, many of the same tea baggers/Republiklans who spoke out against Government spending will be looking for a handout from the government in June.

Let the state budget quake begin...starting with police, fire, bus driver and teachers unions...

The Republiklans must choose what to say no to...If they continue to say no to every proposal...the party will be one noted for STIFLING HOPE AND CHANGE instead of defining hope and change.

[Just_the_Truth]

Where can you find the vote that bloke anything since the Republican only had 40 vote until this month. Even debt ceiling was raised, again, while waiting for the New Senator even though the Dems said they would wait. The Dems had super majority this year and told the Republican to pound sand. There are other ideals to lower cost! Cost is the issue!

[jimbom121]

The Repubs attempted 112 filibusters in 2009. If you remember, back in the summer the Dems tried pretty much anything to get Repub support on healthcare (remember thegang of six???), but nothing. Same with the stimulus plan...which by the way Repubs are taking credit for in their home districts.

Now the Dems screwed themselves because of bad leadership and the inability to get anything done.

[wvason]

Biden has never been seen as a bright person. He apparently cannot even remember his position on issues in the congress when he was a senator. He is so grateful to obama for promoting him out of the senate that he blubbers lies about this administrations "accomplishments" and the great wisdom of their decisions concerning our problems.

[sl3_007]

Why would republicans sign on to hastily thrown together bills that were not read by the representatives. 800+ billion dollar bills full of pork. Remember the last 2 years of the Bush years had democrat controlling congress. Bush did not do a good job, but Obama is even worse at spending. The filibuster is a good thing.

[midlclass]

who knows why or why not however they had no problem pushing through the patriot act under a republican president and no problem foceing medicare part d down reitre's throat's and jamming 98% of the population for no tax cut while catering to the top 2%. also bush didn't veto a bill until the democrates took controll of the house in 06 and how about the only real thing the dems were able to stop was the privatized rapeing of social security. no bill is really hastly thrown together there's always committee's in both house's that put them together and go over them before they are brought to the floor for a vote

[jimbom121]

Then why are they taking credit for the stimulus projects in their districts.

Remember, most of Bush's spending occurred during his first term: unfunded tax cuts, unfunded medicare drug program, 2 unfunded wars (only one justified)

[endurorob_5]

skyk-2009 February 15, 2010 9:31 AM EST
RobAla, the Democrats and republiklans have all used it in the past, that is NOT the issue. Can't you read? Or are you so full of Reich Wing talking points you can not understand what you have read. Geeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzz!! Go back to school for crying out loud.



The issue is that other than Bill Clinton the dems version of bipartisanship is "Just agree with what I say" so the repubs only option is to filibuster. By the way Bill Clinton onnly exercised bipartisanship after he saw the writing on the wall in the 94 elections, something Obama has failed to do.