Tom Udall: “today the Senate took an unusual step to change our rules with a simple majority vote. I say unusual step, and not…”

“today the Senate took an unusual step to change our rules with a simple majority vote. I say unusual step, and not unprecedented, because it was something the Senate has done on many occasions in the past. Like those previous changes, the action we took was not intended to destroy the uniqueness of the Senate but instead was meant to restore the regular order of the body. I believe, as I have stated many times since coming to the Senate, that the best way to amend the rules is by having an open debate at the beginning of each new Congress and holding a majority vote to adopt the rules for that Congress. I, along with Senators Harkin and Merkley, tried to do that at the beginning of this Congress and the last. Ultimately we were unsuccessful in achieving the real reforms we wanted, including a talking filibuster. But there was some hope that the debate highlighted some of the most egregious abuses of the rules and led to an agreement that both sides would strive to restore the respect and comity that is often lacking in today's Senate. Unfortunately, that agreement rapidly deteriorated and the partisan rancor and political brinksmanship quickly returned. As expected, many of my Republican colleagues called today's action by the majority a power grab and ``tyranny of the majority.'' They decried the lack of respect for minority rights. I do believe that we must respect the minority in the Senate, but that respect must go both ways.…”