Senate votes to curb filibusters on many nominees

Though the concept of this ‘constitutional’ change doesn’t sit well with me, the persistent blockage of the day to day business of a democratically elected government must stop.

The Secular Jurist

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he supports the move by Senate Democrats to make it harder for Republicans to block his nominees.

Obama spoke shortly after the Senate voted 52-48 to weaken the power of the filibuster. The rule change will make it harder for minority Republicans to block confirmation of the president’s nominees for judges and other top posts.

Obama says the “unprecedented pattern of obstruction” in Congress has left Americans more frustrated with Washington than ever. He said the pattern “isn’t normal” and isn’t based on substantive differences over his nominees.

The president says that as a former senator, he values the chamber’s powers. But he says some rules are now being used as a tool to “grind business to a halt.”

http://news.msn.com/us/senate-votes-to-curb-filibusters-on-many-nominees

Commentary by The Secular Jurist:  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had no other choice but to invoke the so-called “nuclear option.”  Republican obstructionism…

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