Senate Republicans filibuster Democratic sequester replacement

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: "We believe we have this much responsibility to get anything done."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: "We believe we have this much responsibility to get anything done."

A majority of United States senators voted this afternoon to replace the sequester with a combination of revenue increases and spending cuts, but thanks to a Republican filibuster, the legislation was blocked. Fifty-one votes were cast in favor of the measure. (Among the 49 no votes was Harry Reid, who voted no for procedural reasons.)

A Republican proposal also failed, but that gained just 38 votes. Meanwhile, House Republicans have failed to pass anything during the current Congress to address the sequester.

So, to wrap up, a majority of senators voted to avoid the sequester, but Republicans (joined by 3 Democrats who opposed the measure—Sens. Kay Hagan (D-NC), Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Mark Pryor (D-AR)) blocked them from taking action. Republicans did this despite failing to offer a plan of their own that could pass the Senate or the House. Their Senate plan got just 38 votes and the House Republicans did nothing.

Or, as Bob Woodward would say, it's all Obama's fault.

Please ask Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to reopen filibuster reform.