On Tuesday, the Senate has a cloture vote scheduled for 2:30 to end the filibuster on the DC Voting Rights Act, giving DC a seat in Congress.
A Congressional Quarterly piece on the Senate schedule next week notes that
Without a procedural agreement, a successful cloture vote would require the chamber to focus on the bill until it is either passed or pulled from the floor. A drawn-out debate on the District voting bill could be a boon for Republicans looking to limit floor debate on Iraq War policy on the defense bill.
To Republicans: Stop trying to defend an unsuccessful effort to jump-start a democracy in Iraq. Instead, turn around as take a look at a huge democracy deficit just outside the doors to the US Capitol. As Republicans Michael Steele and J.C. Watts said in an op-ed last week: "This is a blemish on our democracy and it must come to an end." Don't go back to 1964, the last time a voting rights bill was filibustered (by Democrats!) - spread democracy in the United States.
To Democrats: Be willing to stop talking - for a few hours - about Bush's failed effort to jump-start democracy in Iraq. You, too, should turn around as take a look at a huge democracy deficit just outside the doors to the US Capitol. Don't let Republican delaying tactics kill this bill that already has strong majority support.
This is jumping ahead a little -- the filibuster has to be stopped first. If you live in a state with a Republican Senator, call them and tell them to vote YES on cloture to end the filibuster.
You are not logged in.
In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.
If not, you can make an account just by filling out the form below. It's quick and free.
