(From our sister blog, Red Green & Blue)
We can’t protect the planet if popular measures supported by majorities of Americans can’t even come up for a vote in the Senate. Which is why it’s good that all 53 returning Democratic Senators have signed on to a letter calling for filibuster reform.
The filibuster – a procedure that’s supposed to be used rarely and sparingly to slow down action to protect minority rights – is now completely out of control. Back when Jimmy Stewart dramatized the tactic in 1939′s “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” filibusters averaged one a year. During Eisenhower’s 8 years, there were only two. In the last two years: 136.
As a result, a host of bills languished and died without ever being considered, including a national energy policy, work on climate change, and protecting wilderness lands.
(Read the full article at Red Green & Blue)
