GOP Sets All-time Record for Senate Obstructionism

Republicans on Dec. 18 broke their own record for filibusters in the Senate when they forced the 62nd cloture vote of the current legislative session on a portion of the omnibus federal appropriations bill dealing with funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In seeking to tie war funding to timetables for troop withdrawal, Democrats sought a cloture vote to try to end a GOP filibuster, but fell short of the 60 votes needed.  The final budget measure eventually passed with $70 billion for continued war funding with no strings attached.

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.  From refusing to allow the Senate to vote on the Employee Free Choice Act, to denying a roll call on a prescription drug bill, to preventing a vote on implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 commission, GOP senators have used the filibuster to block senate votes on pressing problems.