The Communications Workers of America, which helped lead the outside charge for weakening the filibuster, issued a statement after the GOP-led filibuster of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense, saying the vote demonstrates the need for “real reform.”
CWA’s senior director George Kohl slammed Republicans for “breaking with tradition” to filibuster a cabinet nominee, before turning his attention to Democrats who “worked to scuttle more substantial reforms.”
“A real Senate reform package would have made the obstructionists hold the floor and keep 41 of their colleagues with them over a holiday weekend. Yet, Senator Levin, who is point person for this nomination via his position at the helm of the Armed Services Committee, opposed Senate rules reform and claimed that the rules already existed to keep those wishing to filibuster to hold the floor.
“Regardless of the ultimate outcome of the Hagel nomination, the news of the impending filibuster is a reminder that the Senate rules still need real reform, that the Republicans in the Senate remain intent on breaking new ground in Senate obstruction, and that Senate Democrats who worked to scuttle more substantial reforms have forfeited their right to complain.”
