Good question, Jimmy. I didn't realize this myself until now. Maybe I should double-check it before blithering what I'm about to blither, but I was under the impression that breaking a fillibuster used to require a "two-thirds vote," and that the great revolutionary change was to lower that to a "three-fifths vote"--i.e., of senators voting. If this ever was the case, it isn't now--the rule obviously requires three-fifths of the total Senate. (Surely there are some scholars of Senate rules out there who can spare me the horror of doing--shudder!--research.)
Anyway, I thought it was interesting that in fact the resolution did get a three-fifths majority.
Why does it take 60 to break the filibuster if 10 guys won't even bother to vote?
ReplyDeleteGood question, Jimmy. I didn't realize this myself until now. Maybe I should double-check it before blithering what I'm about to blither, but I was under the impression that breaking a fillibuster used to require a "two-thirds vote," and that the great revolutionary change was to lower that to a "three-fifths vote"--i.e., of senators voting. If this ever was the case, it isn't now--the rule obviously requires three-fifths of the total Senate. (Surely there are some scholars of Senate rules out there who can spare me the horror of doing--shudder!--research.)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I thought it was interesting that in fact the resolution did get a three-fifths majority.
Ken