I don't know any of the details but we've all been through this often enough to start feeling nauseous. Up until now Reid has had several different demands in negotiations to NOT change the filibuster via the Constitutional Option. All 7 nominees up today must get upper-down votes, no substitutions, no amendments to the CFSB structure, no agreement to never EVER revisit filibuster reform. Let's see how wellthis thing being reported by the WPscores when it becomes public:
Senators have reached a tentative deal on averting the constitutional showdown over confirming President Obama's agency nominations. "We may have a way forward on this, I feel fairly confident," Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday morning. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) signaled enough Republicans would support breaking a filibuster on the first test vote on the showdown, for Obama's pick to lead the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau. "I think everyone will be happy," Reid said. The deal would not be finalized until later Tuesday afternoon.
Now, I expected the Reds to come up with enough cloture votes to get on with debate on Cordray thus buying time to negotiate and whither down Reid to his usual cave, but this verbiage "I think everyone will be happy", tells me this is an all-inclusive package deal that will make NO ONE overjoyed.
Frankly, I would be surprised if McConnell blessed this willingly. I see the filibuster reform as a campaign issue for Reds in 2014 and a capitulation on these candidates across the board will whip the crazies into a frenzy against McConnell and whichever 6 sacrificial lambs the GOP lines up to vote with the Dems to get cloture.
Interesting morning.