Reblog: Norm Ornstein

 Incredible perspective from this article about how shifting the whip pressure to the minority on a cloture votes could let minor legislation pass.

Rather than completely eliminate the procedure, Democrats should reform it so that it continues to exist for truly extraordinary circumstances.

Senatorial Rules Ideas

 

Senatorial rules are the worst. They're decided by the majority, so it's always a weird game to try to give the best political situation to the majority. 

My crazy idea is to have rule changes only take effect after 4 years. That way the majority wouldn't senselessly give themselves more power because they might be the minority when the rules come to effect. Emergency rule changes could come into effect immediately with 2/3 of the Senate.