"Restoration of majority rule": Tom Harkin, Jeanne Shaheen eye filibuster reform

By GottaLaff

Finally, it's possible that a Democratic meme is about to be born. Steve Benen has a good piece up about reforming (what has become the abuse of) the filibuster :

Harkin and his new co-sponsor will kick off a new effort to allow the legislative branch of the government to function again. A press statement from Harkin's office reads:

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will be joined by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) at a press conference this afternoon following the introduction of their bill to reform Senate rules that have been abused by the minority to create record gridlock. Senator Harkin introduced a similar bill in 1995, when the Democratic Party was in the minority.

"In an economic climate that has been devastating for Americans, it's time for the Senate to get moving on a jobs bill, on financial regulatory reform, and on health care," Senator Harkin said. "The minority party has ground Senate business to a halt by abusing the rules, and it's time to reform the process."

In the 1950s, there was an average of one filibuster per Congress. Last Congress, motions were filed to end filibusters a record 139 times, and they continue at a similar pace through 2009 (67 cloture motions last year).

[...]. Harkin proposes a new procedural model: the first go-around, the minority could demand a 60-vote majority, as is the case now. But if 60 votes aren't there to end debate, a week or so later, 57 votes could bring the bill to the floor for a vote. If 57 votes aren't there, it drops again and again, and after a month or so, a bare majority could approve cloture.

Benen makes a great point:

Also note, the existence of the legislation creates an opportunity for a larger public debate.

Then he makes an even better one:

My suggestion to Harkin's office is to come up with a helpful frame for the debate. I recommend: "restoration of majority rule."

Easy to understand, hard to challenge, and appealing. Let's run with it and help the Dems control the message for once.

Poll-itics, New Hampshire Senate Edition: Sununu in trouble

By GottaLaff

Poor Johohohohn Sunununununununu, he's being trounced by a girl:

Democrat Jeanne Shaheen has expanded her lead over incumbent John Sununu in New Hampshire's U.S. Senate race. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state found Shaheen ahead 53% to 39%.

Last month she was ahead by 7%. Oh, but wait, it gets better:

Any incumbent who polls below 50% is considered vulnerable. Sununu has not polled over 50% since tracking began and is in a worse position than other Republicans up for re-election. However, New Hampshire is far from the only Republican seat at risk in Election 2008. At least eight other Republican seats are potentially in play this fall, including Alaska, Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado, Mississippi, Kansas, Virginia and Kentucky. So far, just two Democratic incumbents are polling below 50%--Mary Landrieu in Louisiana and Frank Lautenberg in New Jersey.

Bad sunu-news for Republicans.