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 59 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 #46: 33 Republicans and 1 Democrat tried to stall an Amendment to the Tax Extenders Act of 2009 on Mar 9, 2010 and failed.
- Roll Call #29: tried to stall the Nomination of Barbara Milano Keenan, of VA, to be U.S. Circuit Judge on Mar 2, 2010 and failed.
- Roll Call #26: 20 Republicans tried to stall the United States Capitol Police Administrative Technical Corrections Act of 2009 on Feb 26, 2010 and failed.
Notable obstructionists
A few of the antagonists who vote to prolong filibusters most often.
