A couple weeks ago, I had what I thought was a legitimate policy idea to both solve legislative gridlock and reduce the deficit. So, I feverishly drafted a post for Daily Kos. I saved the draft while I researched some statistics about voting history in the US Senate and majorities by party affiliation. I assumed I had plenty of time to do this research because no on seemed to be talking about the extreme ideas I wanted to advoca
Unfortunately, it seems The Onion scooped me on the concept. Despite The Onion's tongue in cheek intent, I still think it's a legitimate policy, so here it is... unedited from the last draft now that I am back from vacation.
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It's time we face the facts. The US Senate is inherently undemocratic. Their unconstitutional supermajority "Senate Rules" about cloture are ridiculous in, especially with today's version of the filibuster, allowing a 41 percent minority to block progress on national priorities.
Much smarter people than I have discussed why the filibuster can and should go, as well as numerous folks with plans about how it could be reformed, such as Senators Harkin and Udall. Even Majority Leader Reid is loving on it lately.
But why stop there when reforming the Senate? And in an era of belt tightening, wouldn't it be great to see the legislative branch pitch in?
Everyone cries, especially Republicans about reforming government and less government and cutting the deficit. To that end, I nominate the US Senate as the portion that the Legislative Branch should donate to the cause of deficit reduction.
OK I know this will come off sounding a little cheeky, but please suspend disbelief long enough to consider the idea. First get rid of the filibuster to get the chamber working again. Then take most of the special constitutional responsibilities away from the Senate, such as nominations review and treaty approval, and give them to the House of Representatives. Let them keep the Presidential Impeachment trials, those don't happen too often anyway. Take all of the political patronage work from the House staffs and make the Senate specialize in such niceties. Transfer essential subject-matter experts to the House Committee staffs. Finally, make the US Senate a part time legislature. All savings go directly to deficit reduction!
Not only could we remove the biggest obstacle to getting much needed legislation passed, but we would be increasing the level of representative power of most citizens in the US by redistributing the power that is currently bottled up in the Senate, with its inherently unfair apportionment of representation. (Just ask any Californian or New Yorker whether it is fair they only have 2 Senators compared to, say, Wyoming or North Dakota.)
Besides all the pro-democratic benefits of these reforms, we can top it all with a Republicans-Can't-Say-No-Cherry-on-Top deficit reduction angle, I think it's a slam dunk!