Landrieu Votes To Improve Senate Rules
One will end the practice known as a “secret hold,” where a single senator can anonymously block the Senate from considering legislation or a nominee. The other will allow a simple majority of senators to waive the reading of an amendment that has been made available for at least 72 hours. Previously, a single senator could delay action on a bill by requiring the reading of amendments.
“Today, I voted for commonsense changes to the rules of the U.S. Senate, so that we can work more effectively for the American people,” said Sen. Landrieu. “The resulting changes will bring efficiency and transparency to the way the Senate conducts the public’s business. These changes will give no advantage to any one political party, and they ensure that the voice of the minority party will not be silenced. “
The Senate rejected other proposed rule changes, including reducing the threshold for invoking cloture for each subsequent vote, eliminating the filibuster on motions to proceed, protecting the rights of the minority to offer amendments after cloture has been invoked and forcing senators who wish to filibuster to continue talking on the floor until cloture is invoked.
Sen. Landrieu voted in favor of four of the five resolutions, opposing only one to gradually reduce the threshold to invoke cloture to a simple majority over the course of eight days.
WASHINGTON – United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today voted to improve the rules of the United States Senate. Sen. Landrieu voted in favor of two resolutions that change the way business is conducted in the upper chamber of Congress.
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