The US Senate has voted down the USA Freedom Act by a vote of 58-42,

[tay]

leaving it just two votes shy of the 60 it needed. The bill would have ended the controversial phone record metadata collection by the NSA, but the Senate was not in favor of rolling back any of the NSA's broad surveillance powers.



USA Freedom Act for NSA reform is voted down in the Senate | The Verge

 

[WLDB]

Quite strange that they need 60 votes instead of 51 like most legislative bodies. Makes it damn near impossible for them to pass anything no matter which party has a 'majority.'

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Yay!

 

[Sons of Liberty]

Quite strange that they need 60 votes instead of 51 like most legislative bodies. Makes it damn near impossible for them to pass anything no matter which party has a 'majority.'

The Senate only requires 51 votes to pass a bill.

However, one of the basic rules of the Senate allows for unlimited discussion and debate. As long as someone wants to talk, discussion on a bill must continue. No vote can be held on a bill until all discussion/debate is closed, you may have heard the term filibuster. The only way to make that person stop talking is when 60 Senators vote to end debate (cloture vote).

 

[EagleSmack]

Unless the Senate changes the rules.

 

[WLDB]

Unless the Senate changes the rules.

Which neither side will do as they want to be able to use that rule for when they are in the minority.

 

[EagleSmack]

Which neither side will do as they want to be able to use that rule for when they are in the minority.

The Democrats did it last year to end filibusters on judicial appointments.


Reid, Democrats trigger ‘nuclear’ option; eliminate most filibusters on nominees - The Washington Post


November 2013

"Republicans vowed to reciprocate if they reclaim the majority.

“Democrats won’t be in power in perpetuity,” said Sen. Richard C. Shelby (Ala.), a 27-year member. “This is a mistake — a big one for the long run. Maybe not for the short run. Short-term gains, but I think it changes the Senate tremendously in a bad way.” "


.....................................


"In his remarks, McConnell finally turned to Democrats and said that a majority of them had never served in the minority and then lectured the longtime members who knew what it was like to be on the other side. “The solution to this problem is at the ballot box,” he said. “We look forward to having a great election in 2014.”"

And that they did.

 

[Tonington]

The Senate only requires 51 votes to pass a bill.

However, one of the basic rules of the Senate allows for unlimited discussion and debate. As long as someone wants to talk, discussion on a bill must continue. No vote can be held on a bill until all discussion/debate is closed, you may have heard the term filibuster. The only way to make that person stop talking is when 60 Senators vote to end debate (cloture vote).

If debate con go to infinity without 60 votes to end debate, then passing that bill does require 60 votes. Followed by at least 51.

 

[taxslave]

Is this about running the country or just a pissing contest?

 

[lone wolf]

Pissing contests seem to be the way government likes to appear busy while collecting too-fat pay cheques

 

[Sons of Liberty]

If debate con go to infinity without 60 votes to end debate, then passing that bill does require 60 votes. Followed by at least 51.

That's what I said.

Is this about running the country or just a pissing contest?

In politics it's about a pissing contest.

 

[BaalsTears]

The US Govt. seems more interested in spying on American citizens than it is in defending them from external threats. It's a shame the bill didn't pass. Perhaps the bill will stand a better chance of passing in the next Congress...or perhaps not. In any event the US Govt. has become a greater threat to the liberty of its own citizens than is any foreign power or group.

 

[Cliffy]