It is my understanding that the courts are reluctant to touch the internal rules of the legislature, but it’s worth a shot. I received today the following email:
Dear Christopher,
Common Cause has taken historic action to restore common sense in Washington. We have gone to federal court to file a constitutional challenge to the Senate’s filibuster rules. In addition to Common Cause, our plaintiffs include four members of Congress, and three distinguished young people whose hopes of citizenship were dashed by the filibuster of the DREAM Act.
Once used to extend debate, the filibuster has become a partisan weapon that now is routinely used to block action – and even debate – on hundreds of bills and nominations.
No other democracy in the world gives a minority effective veto power over all legislation. It’s a recipe for disaster, and puts America at a big disadvantage in the new world economy.
We need your support to restore the principle of majority rule and get America moving again. Sign the petition and tell the Senate – end the gridlock and fix the filibuster!
Most Americans have lost confidence in Congress and its ability to act in the best interest of the ‘we the people.’ And for good reason. The Senate is mired in gridlock that puts politics over the public interest, and the filibuster is a major weapon in that partisan warfare.
America can’t wait any longer for Congress to tackle the issues facing our nation – whether it’s the student loan debt crisis, creating jobs, reining in Wall Street, or keeping the wealthy and huge corporations from drowning out our voices in elections.
Sign the petition today. Tell the Senate: get America moving again.
Thanks for all that you do,
Bob Edgar
and the rest of the team at Common Cause
Go to www.commoncause.org to learn more and sign the petition.
