The Hill News

If every debate in the U.S. Senate was as reasoned and thoughtful, at times as downright eloquent, as Wednesday’s discussion of the filibuster and other antiquated Senate rules, the place might actually deserve its oft-used description as “the world’s greatest deliberative body.”

For more than two hours, senior members like Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, and juniors like Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Tom Udall of New Mexico put aside the snide exercises in one-upsmanship that generally pass for debate in the Senate.

Instead, C-Span viewers and those in the Senate gallery heard a respectful but candid exchange of well-considered views. Watching it, you got the sense â€" rare in the Senate â€" that each side was actually listening to the other.

At Common Cause, we’re active in a coalition of groups working to end the filibuster, at least as now practiced. We’re convinced that it’s unconstitutional. But like many who support preserving the filibuster, we also believe the Senate should be a place where the minority party can fully air its views and has enough leverage to influence legislation.

Read more...