Reid Says Filibuster Reform Will Happen

Daily Kos Staff

Wednesday March 10, 2010 · 1:40 PM PST

2010/03/10 · 13:40

Speaking at a Progressive Media Summit held by the Senate Democratic caucus today, Harry Reid said that the Senate is "likely going to have to make changes to the filibuster" in the next Congress. Analogizing the filibuster to the spit ball and the four-corner offense in basketball--which were both outlawed by their sports, Reid said it was a tactic that has been now so abused that it'll have to be changed. But next year, when it can be done through the organizing process of the new Senate when new rules can be drafted. Changing the rules now would require a two-thirds majority vote.

Senators Stabenow and Schumer both reinforced the message, with Schumer telling HuffPo after his presentation that he was going to start having hearings in his Rules Committee to investigate how it can be done in two or three weeks.

In other Senate organizing news, Sherrod Brown said that chairmanships will be up for review at the beginning of the next Congress, and while it wouldn't name names, said that that reorganizing "would send a message."

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