Senate nears approval of filibuster changes

By Paul Kane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The Senate edged closer Tuesday to resolving a standoff over the chamber's arcane rules after leaders presented a set of modest changes designed to satisfy a group of junior Democrats who are pushing to dramatically revamp the filibuster process.

In separate huddles, Democrats and Republicans considered several proposals that are designed to more quickly approve noncontroversial legislation and more smoothly confirm lower-level nominees to federal agencies.

"I think we have a way to proceed forward," Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters, a position that GOP leaders echoed. "We're making good progress," said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.).

The leaders have negotiated a small set of changes to rules that will require a couple of days to resolve, according to lawmakers and aides.

(More here.)