MetaFilter posts tagged with berniesanders

Harry Reid Endorses New Filibuster Reform Proposal

wintermind — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:53:11 -0800

As the least-productive Congress in a generation draws to a close, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has spoken in support of a new proposal to reform the filibuster. The proposed changes would not eliminate the filibuster, but would restore the talking filibuster, which requires that the opposition explain their objections and keep talking in order to delay a vote on the bill under consideration. Filibuster reform has been discussed frequently over the last few years. The Senate can vote at the start of a new Congress to change its rules, which requires only a simple majority vote. When the 112th Congress began in 2010, there was substantial support from the majority party for filibuster reform, but the bill ultimately failed to receive the votes needed for passage. At the start of the second session of the 112th Congress, Senator Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) reached an informal agreement that would limit the number of filibusters and provide more opportunities for the minority party to offer amendments. The Democrats have been frustrated by the substantial increase in the number of cloture motions filed since they regained control of the Senate in 2007 ("Motions Filed"), while the Republicans have complained about abuse of the amendments process to limit minority input. When we hear about filibusters, many of us think of the rousing speech from "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", Huey Long's infamous soliloquies, or Bernie Sanders's (I-VT) 2010 filibuster. Disclaimer: Senator Sanders signed my copy of his book "The Speech", a transcript of his December 2010 filibuster. Previously.

Obama vs. Marx

homunculus — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:12:20 -0800

Despite The Republican Talking Points, There's A Difference Between Obama And Marx: One Of Them's Not A Socialist. [Via]

Out of left feild

Jon-o — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 21:44:51 -0800

I ran into this article on the The Progressive website. Upon reading it, I said, "Who is this guy and why haven't I heard of him?" You Vermonters know him. He's your congressman, Bernie Sanders. Does anyone else (besides the Vermonters, of course) think this guy's got the right ideas?

Ashcroft Vs The Librarians

Blake — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 06:19:15 -0800

After calling our concerns Hysteria and saying we've been Duped by those who are ideologically opposed to the Patriot Act, Ashcroft Now Says the FBI has not sought a single record from a library or business under a part of the Patriot Act widely criticized as opening Americans' reading habits or personal information to undue government scrutiny.
After a Phone Call to the Head of the American Library Assoc, he promised to declassify a report on how often the agency has sought information from public libraries under the USA Patriot Act.
Congressman Bernie Sanders Says who has authored legislation that would amend section 215 of the USA Patriot Act, welcomed reports today that Attorney General Ashcroft, after months of pressure from Congress and national civil liberty and privacy organizations, has agreed to disclose to the public how Section 215 has been used.