If you thought Republicans would loosen their obstructionist ways once health reform was done, think again. Tom Coburn's filibuster of the unemployment extension, an effort which was supported by many other Republicans, appears to have been successful. The Senate will adjourn until April 12th, without extending benefits, even though for many those benefits will run out on April 5th:
Senate Democrats and Republicans spent hours negotiating among themselves and with each other to find a compromise. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) discussed the possibility of a one- or two-week extension of benefits that would be fully paid for, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was opposed to the idea, according to two Senate aides.
As a result, the House and Senate will leave town without further action. COBRA and flood insurance will expire March 30, and unemployment benefits will expire April 5. The Senate will return to session April 12.(...)
The Senate GOP's refusal to agree to the House's version of the bill was led by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who objected to bringing up the bill. Coburn said that by adding to the federal deficit, we are "stealing future opportunity from our children."
Democrats probably had 60 votes to reach cloture and pass the bill. However, Coburn had denied unanimous consent for a motion to proceed. Without that consent, either Cobrun and his supporters have to relent, or else here is the process required:
Leader Reid moves to proceed to an HR [House of Representatives] bill, which will be the vehicle for the Senate health care bill, and files a cloture motion on the motion to proceed
Two calendar days later, the cloture motion on the motion to proceed ripens (there has to be one intervening calendar day between the day you file cloture and the day you have the vote)
The cloture vote on the motion to proceed occurs one hour after we convene on the third day (If cloture is filed on Wednesday, the cloture vote is Friday. If cloture is filed on Thursday, the cloture vote is on Saturday, etc)
Assuming 60 Senators vote to limit debate on the motion to proceed and end the filibuster, the Senate invokes cloture on the motion to proceed
Thirty hours after cloture is invoked the Senate will proceed to vote on adoption of the motion to proceed itself (This assumes (a) consent will not be granted to yield back any post-cloture time on the motion to proceed and (b) consent will not be granted to adopt the motion to proceed itself---adoption of the motion to proceed itself is routinely agreed to by UC but Rs could force a roll call vote).
Upon adoption of the motion to proceed, the Senate will be on the bill
Additionally, cloture cannot be filed when he Senate is voting. So Harry Reid cold not have filed for cloture until yesterday afternoon. That means this entire process would have taken another week, as long as Coburn and his supporters were determined to keep obstructing. Just another reminder that we need broad procedural reform in the Senate.
STATE BLOGS
