Tom Harkin: “I might also add that I find it a curious argument of the Senator from West Virginia that, if the minority feels the…”

“I might also add that I find it a curious argument of the Senator from West Virginia that, if the minority feels the legislation is bad, they ought to have a right to stop it. Let me quote again from James Madison. If more than a majority [were required] for a decision . . ., the fundamental principle of free government would be reversed. It would be no longer the majority that would rule; the power would be transferred to the minority. Maybe we have a fundamental disagreement here. I do not believe that the minority ought to be able to stop legislation they consider as bad. They ought to be able to amend it, slow it down, debate it, change public attitudes and opinions, go to their colleagues to get their opinions changed. But I find it curious that the Senator from West Virginia would say that a minority ought to have a right to stop legislation they consider bad. That is rule by the minority. The Senator from West Virginia says a Senator ought to have a right to stand and speak until his breath runs out. But that is not the situation we have. Under the present rule XXII, you can start a filibuster and go home. It takes 60 Senators, three-fifths of those duly chosen and sworn, to break a filibuster.”