Can Filibuster Rule Be Changed ?

The filibuster, which is sort of a tradition in the Senate, has always been used very sparingly -- that is until the last couple of years. Since President Obama took office, the Republicans have made its use commonplace. That's because they don't have anywhere near enough votes to defeat a bill, but they have enough to filibuster a bill to death. They do that by keeping the debate going endlessly until the other side finally gives up.

The current Republicans have been throwing a filibuster at everything the Democrats try to do. They are using the tactic as a way to obstruct and have thrown compromise and bipartisanship out the window. It looks like the tactic is starting to wear a little thin with the American people though. Most people don't like it.

In a new New York Times/CBS News poll, 1084 people were surveyed between February 5th and 10th. They were asked whether the Republicans should compromise or stick to their positions. About 74% (3 out of 4 people) said they should compromise and only 22% said they should stick to their positions. That's a huge majority that's getting tired of the obstructionism and gridlock in the Senate.

In fact, they are so disgusted that for the first time at least half of those surveyed (50%) said they want to see the filibuster rule changed. About 44% want to see it stay as it is (with 60 votes needed to stop a filibuster). If the Republicans continue to use the filibuster to obstruct everything the Democrats try to do, I expect that 50% figure will continue to grow larger.

Some of the Senate Democrats are also getting tired of the filibuster abuse, and there is now a move in the Senate to gather support for changing the rule regarding the number of votes needed to stop a filibuster. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) have introduced legislation that would lower the number of votes needed with a four-step process that eventually gets it down to 51 votes.

The odds of getting this accomplished just got a whole lot better when Majority Whip Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) announced his support of the Harkin-Shaheen bill. The senior senator (pictured) is currently second-in-command among Senate Democrats, and if Reid loses in November (which could easily happen) he is in line to become the new Majority Leader when the 2011 Congress convenes.

There are currently 11 senators definitely on board to pass the Harkin-Shaheen bill, and another 8 leaning that way. Only 8 Democrats oppose the bill, while 24 have yet to make a decision. There is little hope of getting the rule changed in this session because it would have to survive a filibuster, but the chances are much better in 2011 at the start of the new session when only 51 votes will be needed.

I'm starting to believe this really could happen.