Fixing the Filibuster

The Democratic majority in the Senate has dropped below 60, and suddenly the air is thick with calls for filibuster reform.

This is the first installment in a series. Click here to read the rest of the series.

The Democratic majority in the Senate has dropped below 60, and suddenly the air is thick with calls for filibuster reform.

Democrats stoically endured the power of Senate minorities to block presidential actions when the minority was Democratic and the president Republican. Now, abruptly, the situation is intolerable and calls out for immediate change.

But ending filibuster will be hard. The predominant view among experts is that 67 votes would be required to revise Senate rules to end or alter the filibuster. (Although a bold minority argues that there is no valid reason to prevent the Senate from changing its rules by simple majority vote.) As a practical matter, it's hard to see how the filibuster could be altered unless leaders in both parties agree. So - any reason Republicans should do so?

Over the next few posts, I'll suggest some ways to think about this problem.