Senator Reid Grows A Backbone
Harry Reid, seeming to finally hear the voices of the American people, has declared he will keep the Senate in session all night for debate, since several cloture motions have failed as a result of Republican obstructionism.
Put up or shut up, in other words.
And, oddly enough, I can’t seem to find mention of this anywhere in the MSM…
From Bob Geiger:
Forcing his Republican colleagues to put up or shut up on the notion of an up-or-down vote, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) just moments ago announced that he will immediately file a cloture motion on the Reed-Levin troop redeployment bill and, if Republicans follow through with a filibuster, will place the Senate in a prolonged all-night session Tuesday to force a true continuation of debate.
“Now, Republicans are using a filibuster to block us from even voting on an amendment that could bring the war to a responsible end,” said Reid. “They are protecting the President rather than protecting our troops. They are denying us an up or down – yes or no – vote on the most important issue our country faces.”
[snip]In making this move (based on my understanding of Senate rules), Reid is invoking the provisions of Rule 22 (Precedence of Motions) of the Standing Rules of the Senate, which provides, at the Majority Leader’s discretion, up to 30 hours of debate if a filibuster is initiated — as the Republicans will most certainly do, knowing that Reed-Levin may very well have the 51 votes needed for passage.
[snip]
In other words, the Majority Leader is saying “You want to debate? We’ll stay all night and debate.”
‘Bout time, wouldn’t you say?
