Franken criticizes GOP ‘perversion of the filibuster’
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 4:18 pm
- 9 Comments
Sen. Al Franken took to the Senate floor Tuesday to criticize GOP use of the filibuster to slow down the work of the Senate, noting that at times Republicans will filibuster something only to later vote unanimously for it.
Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., engaged in a filibuster today because he opposes a law being considered by the Canadian Parliament related to tobacco regulation. Franken rose to speak against Bunning’s filibuster.
“This is a perversion of the filibuster and a perversion of the role of the Senate. It used to be that the filibuster was reserved for matters of great principle, today it has become a way to play out the clock,” Franken said. “Some of my colleagues seem more interested in using every procedural method possible to keep the Senate from doing anything than they are in creating jobs or helping Americans struggling in a difficult economy.”
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Comment posted March 16, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
I’m glad Senator Franken continues to be a voice of reason, common sense and moderation in governance. US Senator Bunning ties up OUR government’s business because he doesn’t like what Canada is doing about smoking? I’m sorry for all of those Kentucky tobacco farmers living the federally subsidized life style, but what Canada does about smoking is their sovereign business.
Must the Senate stops its work because Republican senators find something objectionable going on in any part of the planet? If that is their governing philosophy, they have lost their minds. And American citizens suffer as a result.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 11:07 am
Good thing the Dems would never expand the use of the filibuster to include stopping judicial appointments; wait, never mind, too late on that one.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 12:30 pm
I dislike Franken. I don’t agree with his argument here. However, he could have done better if he wasn’t reading this speech.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 12:31 pm
What’s worse? Perverting the Filibuster rules or Bastardizing the Reconciliation process.
Comment posted March 17, 2010 @ 7:25 pm
“Bastardizing the Reconciliation process” = screaming whining and crying like a little b*tch when the left does the same thing the right did repeatedly.
Emphasis on the “whining”.
Pingback posted January 25, 2011 @ 4:02 am
[...] leadership. They broke all filibuster records with over a 100 causing Senator Al Franken to characterize most filibusters by Republicans as a “perversion” of its [...]
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