Political

It’s not only in the House of Lords where filibustering is an issue

Labour’s filibustering in the House of Lords in many ways echoes the current tactics of Republicans in the US Senate: using delaying tactics to avoid issues coming to a vote when they know they will almost certainly lose a vote when it comes.

The Wall Street Journal reports how the US version is being addressed:

Senate leaders announced on Thursday a package of rule changes that seek to reduce the stalemate and gridlock that has characterized the chamber in recent years.

But lawmakers failed to agree on a limitation to the use of the filibuster – the right of any senator to hold up any legislation the Senate is considering.

The rule changes include ending the ability of a senator to block the Senate from considering an executive branch nominee without publicly declaring they are doing so…

The total number of presidential nominees that require approval by the Senate would be reduced by roughly 30% to 1,000 from the current 1,400, according to a Senate Republican aide…

Senators would no longer be able to call for the lengthy reading of legislation on the Senate floor in a bid to drag out consideration of legislative issues they opposed. This is rarely done, but has the potential to gum up the Senate chamber for hours.

The most recent example was when Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) threatened to require the New Start nuclear-arms-reduction treaty with Russia be read out on the Senate floor late last year…

A fourth change was the basis of an informal agreement between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.).

Mr. Reid agreed to allow Republicans more votes on amendments to bills he brings to the Senate floor, while in exchange, Mr. McConnell agreed not to require as many procedural votes on matters before the Senate.

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