Arizona, Luisiana y Nevada se encuentran entre los estados con leyes y normas onerosas que podr\u00edan afectar los resultados de las elecciones de mitad de per\u00edodo; Carolina del Norte se destaca como la mejor opci\u00f3n para los votantes.<\/p>
Washington, DC - As the U.S. Senate this week anticipates another filibuster over the Department of Defense authorization bill and upcoming filibusters over President Obama's middle class tax cuts, leading policy advocates and congressional experts today hosted a telephonic press conference to highlight the runaway usage of Senate filibusters and their role in derailing our democratic process and prioritizing corporate special interests over progress. <\/p>
\"The level of obstructionism we are currently witnessing is unprecedented in American history,\" said George Kohl, Senior Director for Policy at Communications Workers of America. \"The filibuster promotes gridlock, stalls our democracy, and blocks important and necessary work on appropriations and other legislation.\"<\/p>
Today's call set the stage for a Senate Rules Committee hearing tomorrow, chaired by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), that will feature the testimony of Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Tom Udall (D-NM) discussing the unprecedented levels of filibuster abuse this Congress and its related consequences on the democratic process.<\/p>
\"Filibusters aren't about democracy,\" said Carl Pope, Executive Chairman of the Sierra Club. \"They're about special interests flexing their power. An overwhelming number of Americans want our country to build a clean energy economy, but they don't hold the same sway as the coal and oil industry when it comes to asking their allies to filibuster a bill.\"<\/p>
Aunque hasta 1970 el Senado ten\u00eda en promedio una obstrucci\u00f3n al a\u00f1o, en las \u00faltimas dos sesiones los senadores han usado esta t\u00e1ctica obstruccionista aproximadamente 70 veces al a\u00f1o, descarrilando legislaci\u00f3n popular, asegurando acuerdos preferenciales y proyectos de representaci\u00f3n par\u00e1sita, y haciendo imposible que la administraci\u00f3n consiga confirmar a altos directivos de agencias y candidatos judiciales. <\/p>
By abusing this loophole in Senate procedures and favoring the interests of a few over the majority, this unprecedented obstructionism is harming the Senate's right to seek meaningful compromise and votes on legislation.<\/p>
El filibusterismo en cifras<\/p>
1919-1960<\/p>
-----<\/p>
Se presentaron 27 mociones de clausura<\/p>
108\u00ba Congreso: 2003-04 <\/p>
minor\u00eda dem\u00f3crata<\/p>
Se presentaron 62 mociones de clausura<\/p>
109.\u00ba Congreso: 2000-06<\/p>
minor\u00eda dem\u00f3crata<\/p>
Se presentaron 68 mociones de clausura<\/p>
110\u00ba Congreso: 2007-08<\/p>
minor\u00eda republicana<\/p>
Se presentaron 139 mociones de clausura<\/p>
111\u00ba Congreso: 2009-presente<\/p>
minor\u00eda republicana<\/p>
Mociones de clausura presentadas 118 veces*<\/p>
* Dado que el 111\u00ba Congreso a\u00fan est\u00e1 en sesi\u00f3n, este n\u00famero no es el recuento final.<\/p>
The recent upswing in filibuster usage is surprising, given the Founding Fathers' attempts to limit supermajority requirements to a few specific items.<\/p>
\"A review of the Constitution will show that the filibuster was never a part of the Framers' plan,\" said Caroline Fredrickson, Executive Director of the American Constitution Society. \"The filibuster is a Senate-created procedure, and has no basis in the Constitution or American history.\"<\/p>
Recientemente, millones de estadounidenses desempleados sintieron de primera mano las consecuencias de este obstruccionismo pol\u00edtico cuando el Senado no renov\u00f3 los beneficios por desempleo en forma oportuna debido a m\u00faltiples filibusterismos republicanos. <\/p>
\"Honest and accountable government starts with an open democratic process, including the ability to vote on legislation,\" said Bob Edgar, President of Common Cause. \"Deliberation and debate have given way to complete obstruction, all at the expense of American voters.\"<\/p>
Para obtener m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n, visite www.democracyrules.us<\/p>"}}]},"yoast_head":"\n