Halligan Filibuster Evidence that Senate Rules Reform Compromises Don't Live Up to Intent

Senate Republicans' second filibuster of D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals nominee Caitlin Halligan demonstrates that the U.S. Senate needs actual rules reform, not compromise agreements that fail to live up to their stated intent.

"The Halligan filibuster not only destroys the intent of the rules reform compromise agreement for this Congress, but also blows up the Gang of 14 agreement from 2005 that was supposed to limit the obstruction of qualified judicial nominees," said George Kohl, CWA Senior Director for policy and legislation. "This is just the latest reminder that, instead of Senate compromises that perpetuate Senate gridlock, we need actual and substantial rules reform in the U.S. Senate."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said, "If my Republican colleagues don't like this woman for whatever reason, vote against her. Don't stop her from having an up-or-down vote."

We agree and hope Senator Reid and his caucus recognize that despite settling for watered down Senate rules reform in January, the Republican failure to live up to the terms of that agreement should once again open the door to more substantial reforms. Only through real Senate reform can we ensure that nominees like Halligan receive up-or-down votes and that the Senate engages in actual debate and deliberation on key issues, instead of hiding behind obstructionist tactics.

Read more here about how filibuster abuse has resulted in a non-functional National Labor Relations Board.