Tom Udall: “I rise today to talk about our efforts to change the Senate rules. For the second time since I have been in the Senate…”

“I rise today to talk about our efforts to change the Senate rules. For the second time since I have been in the Senate, the constitutional option has been crucial. It has pushed this body to seriously look at changing the way we do business. This week the majority leader and majority whip declared majority support for the constitutional option. As a result, the Republican leader has finally agreed to some Senate rule changes. As I said more than 3 years ago when I first proposed the constitutional option, it is time for reform. There are many great traditions in this Chamber that should be protected and respected. But the paralyzing abuse of filibusters is not one of them. Senators Merkley, Harkin, and I introduced a package of reforms that is fair, that reins in the abuse, and that protects the voice of the minority. While I believe our reform package is a much better way to restore debate and deliberation to the Senate, I appreciate the leadership's efforts to get a bipartisan agreement. To move forward to reform the filibuster and reduce Senate gridlock. I have carefully considered the compromise proposal that Leaders Reid and McConnell have crafted. I don't believe their proposal does enough to reform the Senate, but it does show that there is consensus, that both sides of the aisle recognize that the Senate is broken, that we must have change. The leaders' proposal is a step in the right direction.…”