WHEREAS:

            The increasing use of the filibuster in the United States Senate threatens to undermine the democratic process of our government as majority rule has become the exception, rather than the rule; and

WHEREAS:

            The United States Constitution provides for a two-thirds majority for constitutional amendments, impeachments, treaties, veto overrides and expulsion of members, but not for ordinary legislative business; and

WHEREAS:

            According to Senate Rule XX the only way to cut off debate on a pending bill is by a motion for which 60 of the 100 Senators vote aye; and

WHEREAS:

            Democracy and the principle of majority rule are turned upside down as a minority of 41 Senators (or less if some Senators are absent) insist on blocking any action, rather than allowing majority rule to produce a result with which they disagree; and

WHEREAS:

            Filibuster or the ever-present threat of a filibuster which forces compromise after compromise even before legislation is introduced undermines effective decision making and contributes to increasing gridlock in the legislative process; and

WHEREAS:

            From 1991-1993, there were 68 cloture votes, nearly twice as many as in the first 50 years after the passage of Rule XX; and

WHEREAS:

            President Clinton's short-term fiscal stimulus/jobs bill was killed by a filibuster and the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the National Service bill, the Campaign Finance Reform and the Motor Voter bill were weakened by filibuster; and

WHEREAS:

            Many other bills on labor's legislative agenda face the threat of filibuster including the Workplace Fairness bill, OSHA reform, health care reform, bills improving the rights of women and minorities, labor law reform and more.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME should work with other groups at the grassroots and national levels to persuade Senators to stop using the filibuster as a means to block progressive reforms; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME should encourage the Senate to reexamine its use of the filibuster as a delay tactic and lower the threshold for cutting off extended debate or place restrictions on the use of the filibuster.

SUBMITTED BY:      

Flora Walker, President and Delegate
Lawrence A. Roehrig, Secretary-Treasurer
AFSCME Council 25 
Michigan