Harkin Revisits Nuclear Option

Posted on 12/14/2009 at 1:28 pm by Bob Cesca

Years ago, Tom Harkin came up with a reasonable solution for killing the filibuster — a gradual phase out. Ironically, Lieberman was on board with the plan.

The plan he announced with Lieberman 14 years ago would have slowly scaled down the cloture threshold for legislation that had been filibustered. The first vote would require 60. If it failed to reach 60, debate would continue until a new vote, which would require 57, and so on until a simple majority could determine whether the measure lived or died.

Good idea.

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  • eljefejeff

    To eliminate or alter the filibuster, wouldn’t you need 60 votes to pass it?And I know this would never happen, but what if Reid called health care to a vote even if Republicans and Joe were still filibustering(which they’re never made to do anyway) and they get like 57 yes votes, and they declare the bill passed. Would the supreme court step in and tell them it didn’t count? It’s not like it’s in the constitution, is it?

  • Jan

    Politico tells me the White House is telling Reid to cave in to Lieberman’s demands and strip out the Medicare buy in and that there’s an emergency caucus meeting today.Well, this about does it for me and this clusterfuck.wow. I am speechless//from Atrios//

  • Irish Girl

    Lieberman wants something that we don’t know about….he’s negotiating for something that is not public knowledge.1) security until 2013 when he doesn’t plan on running again?2) a job in private industry after he retires?Otherwise, Politico’s story makes no sense. Why would the WH tell Reid to compromise with Lieberman? It would mean getting rid of the Medicare buy-in and the public option, leaving us with a grab bag of small reforms and nothing that will address the rising costs that are at the heart of the health care crisis. That is, unless, Joe want’s something he is not willing to publicly state.I’m getting EXTREMELY frustrated with the entire process. If Joe does deep-6 HCR, tarring and feathering would be too good for him.

  • eljefejeff

    I think tarring and feathering was invented for a-holes like Joe.Jan I wouldn’t put too much stock into anything Politico has to say. I sure hope John Podesta is right.http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/12/14/podesta-democrats-will-pass-health-bill-with-or-without-lieberm/

  • m4rk0

    Droopy Lieberman looks pretty old. Any chance he croaks of old age this week?

  • roxsteady

    Actually, according to Greg Sargent that report isn’t true.White House senior communications adviser Dan Pfeiffer emails me:“The report is inaccurate. The White House is not pushing Senator Reid in any direction. We are working hand in hand with the Senate Leadership to work through the various issues and pass health reform as soon as possible.”As for changing the filibuster rule, I don’t think the Supreme Court has any jurisdiction over Senate Rules. They essentially make their own rules. Look at how they let Burris slide. They could easily do the same. If Republicans don’t like it, they can change it when they regain the majority. Of course if the rule change passed, they probably would never regain the majority. It’s a win win.

  • likala

    Let me guess, that Politico piece was from an anonymous source and didn’t Bob establish sometime ago that Politico is nothing more than a Drudge link trolling site?

  • m4rk0

    Yes, Politico is nothing more than a Drudge link trolling site. Remove them from your bookmarks.

  • El Mystico

    This seems like an actual sensible solution. Preserve the filibuster but take away the ability for people to abuse it and make it so that the damn Senate can’t get anything done. I (tentatively) approve.

  • eljefejeff

    great idea, will never happen.

  • http://broadwaycarl.blogspot.com Broadway Carl

    Droopy Lieberman looks pretty old. Any chance he croaks of old age this week?

    Unfortunately, no. He actually has pretty good health care.

  • http://oneceltsview.blogspot.com/ Wolfe_Tone

    Ooh, Carl. Snap!