Al Franken’s Proposal:
Flip the numbers. Instead of requiring 60 votes to end debate, require 41 to continue debate. Then, the majority leader could call votes any time the Senate was in session, and the minority would have to show up and vote to maintain debate. And then make them argue the issue at hand.
This kind of simple change would not eliminate filibusters. In fact, it would restore their original purpose — for the minority to demonstrate when it really cares about something, maybe even leading to, oh, constructive compromises. It would take away the incentive to use the tactic on every bill as a delaying device and begin to limit its use to high profile legislation.
The Senate would just continue to get nothing accomplished as the opposing party would just perform sit-in discussions about nothing for months on end. Then you would want to change the rules again to limit the amount of time debate could occur. So, it would end up requiring 41 votes to continue debating, unless the debating extended beyond 40 hours, and then you set an arbitrary method to end debate. Sounds great when you are in power and then you will regret it when you lose power, unless you stack the cards in your favor with the change in rules so that you never lose power again. The current system is the best we have for a reason and should stay that way.
...why not change the rules to get what we want because....well....Liberalism Rule #4 - The ends justify the means (because liberals always think that they know better).
Ought not the American people see their elected leaders actually go toe to toe on proposed legislation by forcing the minority (41+) to actually engage the debate by voicing the rationale for their opposition?
Makes it harder to obstruct, eh?
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The Party of No would be forced to take the floor and make their case why the bill ought not go the floor for a vote.
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See Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett confirmations via nuclear option.
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