What is wrong with main stream press? The Republicans are on schedule to filibuster THREE times more bills in this Congressional term than any other Congress - ever! And the press can't seem to cover this story.
Except for McClatchy, of course (from July 20th):
Seven months into the current two-year term, the Senate has held 42 "cloture" votes aimed at shutting off extended debate - filibusters, or sometimes only the threat of one - and moving to up-or-down votes on contested legislation. Under Senate rules that protect a minority's right to debate, these votes require a 60-vote supermajority in the 100-member Senate.This year Republicans also have blocked votes on immigration legislation, a no-confidence resolution for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and major legislation dealing with energy, labor rights and prescription drugs.
Nearly 1 in 6 roll-call votes in the Senate this year have been cloture votes. If this pace of blocking legislation continues, this 110th Congress will be on track to roughly triple the previous record number of cloture votes - 58 each in the two Congresses from 1999-2002, according to the Senate Historical Office.
Kevin Drum is even more explicit (from 9/19/07):
I see that Republicans have successfully filibustered two more bills today: one to give a House seat to the District of Columbia (57-42) and one to restore habeas corpus rights to terrorism suspects (56-43). On the DC bill, Democrats and Independents voted 49-1 in favor. Republicans voted 41-8 against. On the habeas bill, Democrats and Independents voted 50-1 in favor. Republicans voted 42-8 against. Would it really be so hard for reporters to make it clear exactly who's responsible for blocking these bills?
Seriously! When the Dems did this before 2006, they were labeled as obstructionists. And the Republicans get a free pass from the press? What's up with that?
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Tags: Congress, Democrats, filibuster, Republicans
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