The Huffington Post: Tester Pushes to Reform Senate Rules With Greater Transparency, Efficiency
I am leading a new effort to clean up Congress by boosting transparency and efficiency in the way the U.S. Senate debates legislation. This is the next step in bolstering accountability and cleaning up Washington.
I am pushing for greater transparency in Senate rules by forcing Senators who block up-or-down votes to do so openly and to explain their objections publicly.
If I oppose a bill, or if I’ve got a problem with a nominee, I’ll look you square in the eye and tell you why. That’s how we do things in Montana. It’s time to put a stop to secret, anonymous politics and get down to work.
Individual Senators currently have the right to block legislation, nominees, and up-or-down votes, through the use of a filibuster. In order to debate or vote on a bill that is being filibustered, a super-majority of 60 Senators must vote to override the filibuster. Even unsuccessful filibusters by individual Senators can delay Senate action for days.
It is time for those Senators to stop hiding behind rules and regulations and to get down to work creating more jobs for the American people.
Congress has got a job to do. Like most Montanans, I have a hard time understanding how one Senator can singlehandedly bring the Senate’s work to a grinding halt, without even saying who they are or why they’re doing it. If folks oppose something, that’s okay. But let’s work together to solve those problems, instead of just partisan grandstanding.
