Filibuster Day of Action Thursday: Call Senators

As the new Congress convenes this month another effort is underway to reform the filibuster. This new proposal in front of the Senate to reform the filibuster returns to the form of filibuster that the public understands, namely talking all night.
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The filibuster used to be an important tool that gave the minority a voice in the Senate. But the Senate made a mistake and changed the rules, which enabled an obstructionist minority to block... everything. There have been more than 380 filibusters in just the last few years! It is time to change the rules back to the old "make them talk" system. Thursday, Jan. 3, is a day of action demanding that the Senate fix the filibuster and make them talk. So pick up the phone right now and urge your Senator to support Senate Rules Reform. Call 1-866-937-5062 or text FIXTHESENATE to 69866.

Filibuster Has Become Tool Of Obstruction

In recent years Senate Republicans have used the filibuster to block over 380 bills and nominations. There has been a terrible cost to the country as Republicans blocked bill after bill, solution after solution, nomination after nomination.

For too long now, this tactic has been misused and abused. Congress has stopped legislating effectively, with senators using ridiculous dodge tactics to block real progress. They have used filibusters to block jobs, judges, disaster relief, the Dream Act, health care, and almost everything else. They have even filibustered their own bills!

As the new Congress convenes this month another effort is underway to reform the filibuster. This new proposal in front of the Senate to reform the filibuster returns to the form of filibuster that the public understands, namely talking all night.

Fix The Filibuster

We have a chance to restore the filibuster to its original purpose, but we need your help to do it.

(Visit http://on.fb.me/RqcQW7 to share this video.)

They should make them talk. This is a pro-democracy move. First, it stops the obstruction. Second, it allows senators with serious and honest problems with a bill to bring this to the attention of the public by holding a real, honest-to-goodness talkathon. Third, this would engage the public and give We the People a chance to weigh in and agree or disagree with the objection.

Pick up the phone right now and urge your Senator to support Senate Rules Reform. Call 1-866-937-5062 or text FIXTHESENATE to 69866.

A number of organizations are engaged in a battle to restore the old "make them talk" rules.

Things You Can Do

  • Pick up the phone right now and urge your Senator to support Senate Rules Reform. Call 1-866-937-5062 or text FIXTHESENATE to 69866.
  • Here is a sample tweet to use on Twitter: Silent. Invisible. The shocking truth of the U.S. Senate today and why we fight for Senate rules reform: http://on.fb.me/RqcQW7 #fixtheSenate
  • Click to Tweet: http://clicktotweet.com/W5m_2
  • Send an email. Click here for a sample email you can use as a template.
  • There is a Fix the Senate Now Facebook page: "In the US Senate, back room deals and filibuster rules allow a handful of senators to stop the rest from making any progress. Let's fix the Senate, now."
  • Follow @FixTheSenate on Twitter.

Member Organizations

Here is a list of organizations in the FixtheSenateNow.org coalition:

  • AAUW
  • Action for the Common Good
  • AFL-CIO
  • AFSCME
  • Alliance for Justice
  • Americans for Democratic Action
  • Association of Flight Attendants - CWA
  • Brennan Center for Justice
  • Business and Professional People for the Public Interest
  • Campaign for America's Future
  • Center for Media and Democracy
  • Center for Science and Public Interest
  • Clean Water Action
  • Common Cause
  • CREDO
  • CREW
  • CWA
  • Daily Kos
  • Democracy 21
  • Demos
  • Fair Action Alliance
  • Feminist Majority
  • Friends of the Earth
  • Gamaliel
  • Greenpeace
  • International Brotherhood of Teamsters
  • Jobs with Justice/American Rights at Work
  • League of Conservation Voters
  • League of Women Voters
  • LULAC
  • NAACP
  • National Action Network
  • National Council of Women's Organizations
  • National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund
  • Natural Resources Defense Council
  • NEA
  • NOW
  • Physicians for Social Responsibility
  • Population Action International
  • Progressive Congress
  • Public Campaign
  • Public Citizen
  • SEIU
  • Sierra Club
  • Tides
  • TWU
  • UAW
  • UFCW
  • United Steelworkers
  • USAction
  • Voices for Progress
  • Woman's National Democratic Club
  • Women's Research & Education Institute

This post originally appeared at Campaign for America's Future (CAF) at their Blog for OurFuture. I am a Fellow with CAF.

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