Republican Obstruction In The Senate

Petty little men stopping America’s progress.

Some facts:

* Senate Republicans have obstructed almost every bill in the Senate – even ones with wide bipartisan support.

* So far, in the first half of the first session of the 110th Congress, there have been THIRTEEN cloture votes on motions to proceed – each one wasting days of Senate time. (110th Congress, Roll Call Votes #44, 51, 53, 74, 129, 132, 133, 162, 173, 207, 208, 227, and 228)
* In comparison, in the first sessions of the 108th and 109th Congresses combined, there were a total of FOUR cloture votes on motions to proceed.

EIGHT times Republican obstruction tactics slowed critical legislation

* Fulfilling the 9/11 Commission Recommendations (Passed 97-0, Roll Call Vote #53)
* Improving security at our courts ( Passed 93-3, Roll Call Vote #133)
* Water Resources Development Act (Passed 89-7, Roll Call Vote #162)
* A joint resolution to revise U.S. policy in Iraq (Passed 89-9, Roll Call Vote, #74)
* Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Passed 69-23, Roll Call Vote #173)
* Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Passed 64-35, Roll Call Vote #228)
* CLEAN Energy Act ( Passed 91-0, Roll Call Vote #208)
* Funding for the Intelligence Community (Passed 94-3, Roll Call Vote #129)

FOUR times Republicans blocked legislation from being debated

* Senate Republicans blocked raising the minimum wage. (54-43, Roll Call Vote #23)
* Senate Republicans blocked ethics reforms (Rejected 51-46, Roll Call Vote #16)
* Senate Republicans blocked comprehensive immigration reform (Rejected 45-50, Roll Call Vote #206)
* Senate Republicans blocked funding for renewable energy (Rejected 57-36, Roll Call Vote #223)

FOUR times Republicans stopped bills from reaching a vote

* Senate Republicans blocked funding for the intelligence community. ( Rejected 41-40, Roll Call Vote #130)
* Senate Republicans blocked raising the minimum wage. (54-43, Roll Call Vote #23)
* Senate Republicans blocked ethics reforms (Rejected 51-46, Roll Call Vote #16)
* Senate Republicans blocked funding for renewable energy (Rejected 57-36, Roll Call Vote #223)

TWICE Republicans blocked bills from going to conference

* Senate Republicans blocked appointing conferees on the 9/11 Commission Recommendations (6/26/07)
* Senate Republicans blocked appointing conferees on ethics reform ( 6/26/07)

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8 Responses to “Republican Obstruction In The Senate”


  • A regular Block Party…

  • Quaker in a Basement

    I’m so old, I remember when Republicans called behavior like that “obstructionist” and demanded an “up or down vote.”

  • Detestable. I can clearly recall that Democrats never voted along party lines or opposed presidential nominees on purely ideological grounds when they were the minority party. Absolutely shameful.

  • It’s like he read the title and went straight to CTRL-V from RedState, isn’t it? Amazing.

  • Great, GREAT roundup. I’m sending it to everyone I know and ordering them to send it to everyone they know. That’s right — I’m going to become that person I can’t stand, and it’s all your fault.

  • Enlightened Liberal

    That’s why we need 60 in 2008. Actually 61 considering HolyJoe.

  • It’s a matter of desperation for them: Their constituents know the GOP were the do-nothing Congresses, and they will do their damnedest to make sure these do nothing either.

    Despicable.

  • “That’s why we need 60 in 2008. Actually 61 considering HolyJoe.”

    That’s going to be fucking hard.

    I could see the Dems losing Louisiana.

    I could see them picking up Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, and possibly North Carolina.

    Even if they sweep those seven races, they would need four more surprises. Retirements / scandals could give us enough, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

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