Republicans Break All Time Filibuster Record

 

Republicans last night broke the all-time Senate record for filibusters in a two-year term when they forced the 62nd cloture vote of this session on the omnibus appropriations bill, H.R. 2764.

 

The previous record of 61 cloture votes in a two-year term was set in 2001-2002, the last time the GOP comprised the minority in the Senate.

 

The fact that the new record for legislative obstruction was set in less than one session would be similar to Roger Maris hitting 61 home runs before the mid-season break for the all-star game, instead of during the 162 game baseball season.

 

From refusing to allow the Senate to vote on the merits of the Employee Free Choice Act, to denying a roll call on the substance of the prescription drug bill, to preventing a vote on legislation implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 commission, GOP Senators impeded solutions to pressing problems.

 

Under Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY),  Republican Senators have instituted "new math" in which 60 votes have replaced 51 votes as the required majority to pass legislation.

 

Given their penchant for extended debate, Republican Senators have earned a new name for the venerable acronym GOP - - the Great Obstruction Party!