U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Efforts by U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., to reform the way the Senate does business appear to be picking up steam.
Senate Democrats are expected to caucus Friday to discuss finalizing a reform package to present to Vice President Joe Biden, the Huffington Post is reporting.
From the Huffington Post’s Sam Stein:
“In a conference call with reporters on Thursday, two of the chamber’s loudest pro-reform voices offered fresh details on the (still delicate) strategy that they hope to pursue in the weeks ahead. According to Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.), the caucus will begin discussions on specific proposals supported or proposed by Senate Democrats in the past.
“Whether a final consensus can be reached remains to be seen. But the basic goal is evident: the pro-reform members sense that their best (and perhaps only) shot at passage is to have one package with multiple elements brought to the floor on Jan. 5, 2011.”
Udall, a former House member, ran for Senate in 2008 in part, he said, because he was tired of the House passing good legislation only to watch it die in the Senate. He’s been proposing reform ideas to prevent obstruction of legislation and nominations for months.
One idea is to make public the holds one member of the Senate can secretly put on a judicial nomination. That way, the Huffington Post quoted Udall as saying, “people have to own up to them.” Another idea is to end the filibuster and require yes votes from only a simple majority to pass a bill.
Changing the rules can happen on the opening day of the session – Jan. 5 of next year – and requires a simple majority vote once the vice president decides to cut off debate.