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Everyone who follows politics has heard the term “filibuster.” Most people think of a lone Senator standing for hours reading cookbooks in order to make a stand against hasty legislation. But that never happens anymore.

Instead, in its current form, the filibuster is a move used by the minority to prevent majority legislation from coming to the floor unless 60 votes are assured.

When the Republican controlled Congress threatened to abolish the filibuster, a move called the “nuclear option,” Democrats cried foul, citing history and tradition. But now, when a super-majority of Democrats run the Senate, filibuster “reform” is suddenly vital to the republic.

This then begs the question: should 41 Senators be able to block the will of the majority? Democrats claim that this would be fine as long as that power isn’t abused. With the possibility of a Republican Senate takeover, however, the Democrats may need the filibuster in order to block repeal of certain bills passed by the current Congress, namely Health Care and Finance Reform.

One idea that has been floated suggests that the filibuster be phased out over a number of years so that no current Congress knows which party would benefit in the future.

What remains to be seen is whether enough support exists to change a rule that has been in place since the 1800s. It is also fair to ask whether the Senate would be better served by passing legislation that could be easily repealed by the next session of Congress.

Before any change is made, a consensus must be formed on whether it is better to easily pass/repeal legislation or to easily kill controversial legislation before it gets out of the gate.

Posted by DarrenStaley in News, Politics

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