Robert Aderholt
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) this evening released the following statement after the Senate failed to pass a measure to keep the government funded.
“Congress has one job that it must do each and every year and that is to keep the government funded through Appropriations bills. Despite bipartisan support for passage of the House bill to fund the government, Senate Democrats have voted to shutdown the government utilizing an arcane parliamentary rule. It is far past time for the Senate to get out of its own way and to get out of the way of the American people. Appropriations bills are important just like approving judges and therefore this vote should only be subjected to a simple majority threshold as well.
“This parliamentary procedure, known as cloture, essentially cuts off debate and allows the Senate to vote on the bill. However, this self-imposed rule requires 60 votes, not the usual 50-vote majority. In other words, the Senate cannot even vote until this super-majority have agreed to move forward with the vote.
“There is no constitutional basis for this rule and it has been revised as recently as the 1970’s as a means to garner bipartisan support. It has been abused so many times that it now has the opposite effect, allowing a hyper-partisan minority to hold the legislative process hostage. It is high time that the Senate change their rules so that they can get on with doing the people’s business in Washington and stop being the weakest link in our government.”
Media Release/Congressman Robert Aderholt/Clark Carson
