Senate Ends Secret Holds
Steven L. Taylor
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Thursday, January 27, 2011
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3 comments
Via USAT: Senate ends secret ‘holds’
The U.S. Senate has agreed to change its rules and eliminate secret “holds,” a tactic that has allowed lawmakers to anonymously block legislation and appointments.
A resolution to change the practice passed on a 92-4 vote.
Well, it’s hardly Filibuster reform, but it is a step in the right direction.
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog).
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My gal, Claire McCaskill, has long complained about this abuse of procedure…
GOOD FOR HER.
A teeny, tiny bit of progress. That just leaves 9 billion things left to do. We’re on our, baby!
The four who voted no:
Jim DeMint, R-SC, Mike Lee, R-UT, Rand Paul, R-KY, and John Ensign, R-NV.