“Filibuster” on The Daily Caller

In a shocking development Thursday evening, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) triggered a rarely used procedural option informally called the “nuclear option” to change the Senate rules. (more)

Tea Party favorite Sen. Rand Paul is planning a filibuster sometime next week to bring the debt ceiling negotiations to the Senate, the Huffington Post is reporting. (more)

Just over four years ago I wrote in this space that Democrats not only didn’t have to worry about losing their Senate majority in ’08, they needed to set their sights on 60 seats in 2010 because a “filibuster-proof majority would change the rules of the game on Capitol Hill.” (more)

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that he’s considering a filibuster of the budget agreement to fund the government for the remainder of this fiscal year. (more)

There’s been a push for decades to constitutionally require Congress to balance federal spending with revenue. And a current incarnation of this push would cap spending at 18 percent of GDP, which all 47 Republicans in the U.S. Senate have signed off on. But how far will the GOP take it? (more)

A few moments ago, Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell took to the floor of the Senate to announce a five-point agreement on rules reform. But the five-points weren’t, well, the point. The real agreement was on the process by which rules can be reformed. (more)

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a founding member of the Senate’s Tea Party Caucus, has pledged to filibuster legislation to increase the debt ceiling. (more)

WASHINGTON — Democratic advocates of an overhaul of Senate rules to curb the filibuster abandoned that effort on Wednesday, clearing the way for a bipartisan agreement to institute less sweeping changes to ease procedural gridlock. (more)

Filibuster reform is not likely to come to the Senate. At least not the substantial reform proposed by Democratic senators that would curtail the practice of blocking legislation by denying the 60 votes needed for a cloture vote to proceed with debate. (more)

On the evening of January 5th, Democrats stopped time. (more)

Democrats could unintentionally make it easier to repeal the president’s health care reform law if they go ahead with plans to change the filibuster rule, according to senior GOP activists. (more)

Despite efforts by Senate Democrats to severely restrict the use of the filibuster, it seems as though they will use any tactic, including the filibuster, to see that the effort to repeal Obamacare never makes it to this president’s desk. It’s clear that House Republicans’ repeal efforts are just the first step in a long process. Republicans and conservatives understand and accept this, which is why a strategic plan is needed. (more)

Top Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, spoke out Tuesday against what Alexander called the “brazenness” of proposed changes by Democrats to the filibuster. (more)

A myriad of liberal organizations has plotted for months behind the scenes to rewrite Senate rules to limit the power of Republicans. As their anti-filibuster campaign reaches a critical moment, they’re pulling out all the stops. In recent days, the New York Times editorialized in support of their effort and the Washington Post carried op-eds from their allies. (more)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is considering canceling the results of the November elections by changing the Senate rules when senators conduct their opening day procedures on January 5th. Democrats want to reduce the number of senators needed to invoke cloture (limit debate). (more)

Still more good news for filibuster reform: Harry Reid is in active discussions with his caucus about moving forward with reform in the new year, and is currently devising a plan to do just that, a senior Senate Democratic leadership aide tells me. (more)

After months of GOP obstruction, a bill to help 9/11 first responders cover their mounting health care costs is expected to zip through Congress. In addition to being a feather in the cap of New York and New Jersey Democrats — who have been pushing the bill for months — it will likely enjoy the distinction of being the last legislative item to pass the unusually productive 111th Congress lame duck session. (more)

Texas Sen. John Cornyn may have spoken too soon when he said “nobody” is considering a government shutdown over the $1.2 trillion omnibus spending bill that Majority Leader Harry Reid has vowed to push through Congress in the lame-duck session. (more)

If Congress fails to pass a spending bill before Sunday, all non-essential portions of the federal government are effectively “shutdown.” Regardless, Newt Gingrich tells HUMAN EVENTS that Republicans must filibuster the Omnibus bill and not allow it to move in the Senate. (more)

After two failed attempts in as many months to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military, it is now very likely that the Senate will send a bill repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to President Obama before the end of the year. (more)