The Party of No Redux

An interesting article on MSNBC.com today:


Analysis: Republicans setting filibuster record
GOP senators are on pace to triple previous uses of procedural obstruction

The frequency of filibusters — plus threats to use them — are measured by the number of times the upper chamber votes on cloture. Cloture is a Senate procedure to end debate so other business can be brought to the floor. Such votes test the majority's ability to hold together 60 members to break a filibuster.



In the 110th Congress of 2007-2008, there were a record 112 cloture votes. In this session of Congress, the 111th — for all of 2009 and the first two months of 2010 — the number already exceeds 40.

The most the Democrats have ever use the filibuster was 58 times in the 106th Congress of 1999-2000.


So the next time you wonder why nothing gets done in Washington, here's a big part of the answer.