Reed Calls for US Senate Changes to Improve Efficiency

Press Release

Congressman Tom Reed is calling for the partial removal of the Senate filibuster. Currently, Democrats are holding the Department of Homeland Security funding hostage by threatening to shut down DHS if Republicans do not back down on challenging President Obama's amnesty agenda.

Congressman Tom Reed released the following statement:

"I am calling on Leader McConnell to follow Harry Reid's lead and change the rules of the Senate to improve efficiency and ensure that legislation, that the American people support, gets to the Senate floor. The House has done the people's work and it is time the Senate does as well.

"That is why I am proposing a simple majority to debate a bill in the Senate. The American people are sick of gridlock and government that cannot get anything done. This is a common-sense reform that is fair to Americans who expect their government to work for them, while also still preserving what makes the Senate a separate and distinct branch of Congress. The time is now to reform the Senate and I join with my colleagues, both liberal and conservative, that believe that something must be done."

Background

Since the GOP regained control of the Senate, Leader McConnell has allowed more amendment votes since January than the entire previous session of the Senate.

One year ago Harry Reid changed some of the rules of the Senate to improve efficiency by allowing certain appointments of the executive branch be subject to a 51 vote threshold

Leader McConnell should change the rules of the Senate again this time on behalf of the American people

Leader McConnell needs to change rules to lower threshold to 51 votes for moving senate to debate the substance of the bill and allow amendments to be openly voted on such policy impacting Americans

I join Conservative colleagues (Reps. Labrador, Huelskamp, Jordan) in calling for changes to Senate Rules

However unlike some others I am calling for retaining the 60 vote threshold to close debate on the bill in order to consider final passage of the bill. This is would ensure the minority perspective and participation in substantive debate is respected.

Source