Liberals’ filibuster reform … not

I’m not wrong, I simply misspoke
January 16, 2013
Candy and Castor Oil
January 16, 2013
I’m not wrong, I simply misspoke
January 16, 2013
Candy and Castor Oil
January 16, 2013

If there’s one thing everyone can agree on, regardless of political party or interest in government, is that Washington is currently in a state of dysfunction that’s directly holding back this country from prospering. The disagreement is about how to solve it.

Many of my liberal colleagues are beginning to tout a solution that is very troubling to Louisianans and our views on what’s best for the country. The dressed up packaging for their idea is referred to as “filibuster reform.” I would argue, “reform” is a subjective term in this message. “One party rule” is a more appropriate name.


Essentially, Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid of Las Vegas proposes to change the rules of U. S. Senate debate to silence the minority party and their ability to accelerate far liberal policies. Liberals, led by Reid, complain about “Republican” filibusters, but they fear actually considering our counterproposals or alternatives. In fact, one of the key contributors to Congressional dysfunction is that it has become Reid’s standard practice to use his ability as Senate leader to block any Republican proposal and simply label it a “filibuster.”


As majority leader, he’s used his procedural options to block amendments a record 69 times, more than the last six majority leaders combined. Instead of radically changing the rules of the Senate, we should return to a process that gives fair consideration of amendments from any Senator, in any party. The Senate’s procedures are designed to ensure both parties are heard. By allowing the Majority Leader to completely block proposals from the other side, we’d only be silencing the Americans represented by those senators.

Without Republicans fighting to tone down these policies and fighting to slow down these measures, the Senate could have potentially passed a carbon tax or cap and tax measure that would negatively impact Louisiana specifically. Those measures alone would have strangled our energy economy further, severely hurt manufacturing within the state, shut off a lot of recent manufacturing jobs and contributed to a huge increase if your family’s utility bill.

And remember, this is the same Harry Reid that recently had to recant a statement where he claimed Hurricane Sandy was more damaging than Hurricane Katrina’s along the Gulf Coast.

Louisianans and residents along the Gulf Coast might not want to concentrate any more power in the hands of someone like that. Instead, we need to focus on areas where both parties can agree to tackle to big challenges in front of us like spending and debt, overregulation and common sense health care reforms. Rigging the rules of the game so one party rules is not the checks and balances designed by our founders, and certainly doesn’t help bring health and sensibility back to Washington.

As always, I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on how we can help more Louisiana families with the issues important to you. Please contact me with your ideas at any of my state offices or in my Washington office. You can also reach me online at http://vitter.senate.gov.