Harry Reid caved big time to Mitch McConnell on filibuster reform.
In some ways, the Reid-McConnell filibuster reform deal is even worse for Democrats than the rules currently in use in the Senate. First, Senate Republicans can offer two "poison pill" amendments to any bill that Reid cannot block, and no real limits are placed on McConnell's power to force 60-vote super-majorities on nearly every bill or nomination. Additionally, most of the new rules are in place for only the next two years, meaning that the filibuster reform debate will more than likely be front and center once again come January 2015.
I will admit that there are a couple of provisions that I do like in this filibuster reform package which would make it more difficult for Senate Republicans to block district court and sub-cabinet appointees. The current rules allow Senate Republicans to force up to 30 hours of wasted time before any nominee can be confirmed, and, for circuit court of appeals judges, Supreme Court judges, and cabinet officials, this is still the case. For district judges, the amount of wasted time that Republicans can force is reduced to 2 hours. For sub-cabinet officials, the amount of wasted time that Republicans can force is reduced to 8 hours.
However, any filibuster reform that gives Republicans two free shots to insert "poison pill" amendments to bills and sunsets in two years is a sham, and Harry Reid should face a credible Democratic primary challenger in his home state of Nevada when his seat if up for election in 2016.
Any Nevada Democrats willing to mount a primary challenge to Harry Reid in 2016?