Filibuster Follies

Katrina vanden Heuvel
The Nation

With 35 million people uninsured, and Big Insurance on the verge of receiving hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies through health care reform, the idea that a Blanche Lincoln, Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson or Mary Landrieu could sabotage a public option should be a wakeup call to all of us as to the dysfunctionality of our Senate.

Of course, the reason conservative members of the Democratic Caucus are able to wield such power is the anti-democratic, not constitutionally-mandated filibuster, which requires a super-majority of 60 Senators to pass legislation.

That's why so many pro-democracy folks are urging Majority Leader Harry Reid to use the procedural process of " reconciliation" to pass a public option if they can't muster 60 votes. Reconciliation allows for a simple majority of 51 Senators to approve certain budgetary matters.

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