Hold senators accountable
for blocking legislation.
Some senators like to filibuster and keep the majority from having their way. You might think they’re heroes. Or jackasses. Either way, they’re worth keeping track of.
What does this mean?
Right now, in the U.S. Senate, there are 60 Democrats eager to push through sweeping policy changes. There are also 41 Republicans who feel those changes are a bad idea, and will do anything in their power to prevent them from becoming law.
It takes 41 Senators to prevent action on a measure. The next two years will be an ongoing battle between filibuster (an attempt to debate indefinitely) and cloture (a vote to impose a time limit on a debate).
Recently filibustered
- Roll Call #19: 16 Republicans tried to stall the Nomination of Martha A. Johnson to be Administrator of General Services Administration on Feb 4, 2010 and failed.
- Roll Call #17: 32 Republicans tried to stall the Nomination of M. Patricia Smith, to be Solicitor for the Department of Labor on Feb 1, 2010 and failed.
- Roll Call #15: 17 Republicans and 6 Democrats tried to stall the Nomination of Ben S. Bernanke, to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve on Jan 28, 2010 and failed.
Notable obstructionists
A few of the antagonists who vote to prolong filibusters most often.
