filibuster

Senate Republicans filibuster to protect oil-industry subsidies — after getting gusher of oil money

Cross-posted from Think Progress. On Tuesday night, Republicans in the Senate filibustered the majority’s attempt to repeal $21 billion in subsidies for the big five oil companies — the same companies that made over $30 billion in profits in just the first three months of 2011. While three out of four Americans believe ExxonMobil and […]

Nisbet is wrong: the forces of climate progress are not as strong as their foes

Who’s the giant in this scenario?In his Climate Shift report, Matt Nisbet purports to compare the lobbying efforts of climate-bill supporters and opponents. He finds that, in 2009, the former spent $394 million and the latter $259 million. In other words, greens and their allies outspent their opponents. “The narrative [that] this is David versus […]

Wednesday is the vote for Senate reform — call your senator!

On Wednesday, the Senate will decide whether to reform the filibuster. I never say this, but: Call your senator!

PBS on Senate dysfunction and filibuster abuse [VIDEO]

Over the weekend, the PBS show Need to Know ran a fantastic piece on Senate dysfunction, focused in particular on filibuster abuse. It features Sen. Tom Udall, a big supporter of Senate rules reform, and George Packer, who wrote a stellar piece on Senate dysfunction for The New Yorker earlier this year. It's a lot of good info packed in 15 minutes.

Will Pete Rouse, Obama’s new chief of staff, push for climate action?

Rahm Emanuel's replacement has political savvy, energy-policy chops, and experience warding off environmental attacks from Republicans in Congress.

Is cap-and-trade to blame for the death of the climate bill?

Pundits say cap-and-trade is the reason for the green movement's lack of success and that a different policy is key to moving forward. I don't buy it.

Blocking the Senate should be hard work

The Senate's not working because it doesn't take any work to stop it from working -- and that's what the Republicans are interested in doing. Current rules make stopping the Senate from doing its work the easiest thing in the world to do. That's got to change.

A plan to change the Senate's rules and make the Senate work again

The Senate clearly isn't working, and the frustration is being felt outside and inside the body. I challenge my colleagues and all of you to support my Constitutional option for changing the rules and making the Senate function again.

The filibuster undermines democratic accountability

The filibuster stands today as the single most important impediment to the significant reforms needed in America's climate/energy policies, its immigration policies, its labor law policies, and its need for a functioning judiciary. But beyond that, the filibuster has become a critical force undermining the workings of democratic accountability.