Filibuster fizzle
EDITOR: The U.S. Senate's shameful failure to pass significant filibuster reform makes crystal-clear that senators' true purpose is not to promote the people's well-being but their own political and financial welfare. With congressional approval ratings at a level below those of cockroaches and root canals, the Senate's trivial changes to the filibuster process constitute nothing so much as a sneer in the faces of those who elected them.
The 112th Congress was the least productive in history, and though it's barely begun, 82 percent of the people already disapprove of the 113th. Senators blame the Republican-controlled House, but under Nancy Pelosi the House passed more than 300 bills that were stalled in the Senate by Republican filibusters, requiring a super-majority of 60 votes for passage. The Constitution requires only 51.
Republicans invoked the filibuster more times in the past six years than ever before. Under the "new" policy, this dysfunctional performance will continue and may help to make this Congress even more ineffective than the last.
Be sure to ask Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer how and why they voted as they did on this issue. The people deserve to know.
JIM LOBDELL
Santa Rosa
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