WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), a leading advocate of rules reform in the Senate, on Thursday supported an effort to reform the rules and allow qualified nominees to get an up-or-down vote in the Senate.  Harkin discussed his work on NPR’s All Things Considered yesterday.   

“Nearly two decades ago, as a member of the minority party in the U.S. Senate, I argued that reform of the rules was critical for the Senate to be able to respond to the challenges of the day.  Since that time, the use of the filibuster has accelerated – to the point where now, even the most routine and mundane business is subjected to the fillister by the minority party.  In fact, it has gotten so bad, that Senators now get up and openly say that we are not abiding by the normal ’60 vote rule’ of the Senate.  There is no such rule, but it is becoming the norm.

“While neither party has completely clean hands in this respect, the Republican Party’s recent abuse of the filibuster to block qualified nominees is without precedent in the U.S. Senate.  If the chamber is to be able to respond to the challenges of the 21st Century, this cannot go on.  For that reason, I welcome the Senate’s action today and I was proud to support Majority Leader Reid in this vote.”