Explanation from Bob Geiger: Reid To Force Senate Into All-Night Session Tuesday

http://bobgeiger.blogspot.com/2007/07/reid-to-force-senate-into-all-night.html

Reid To Force Senate Into All-Night Session Tuesday

Forcing his Republican colleagues to put up or shut up on the notion of an up-or-down vote, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) just moments ago announced that he will immediately file a cloture motion on the Reed-Levin troop redeployment bill and, if Republicans follow through with a filibuster, will place the Senate in a prolonged all-night session Tuesday to force a true continuation of debate.

"Now, Republicans are using a filibuster to block us from even voting on an amendment that could bring the war to a responsible end," said Reid. "They are protecting the President rather than protecting our troops. They are denying us an up or down – yes or no – vote on the most important issue our country faces."

The Reed-Levin amendment to the Department of Defense (DoD) Authorization Bill requires George W. Bush to "commence the reduction of the number of United States forces in Iraq not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act" and mandates a withdrawal of most combat forces by April 30, 2008.

The legislation, S.AMDT.2087, has bipartisan support and is cosponsored by Gordon Smith (R-OR), Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME).

In making this move (based on my understanding of Senate rules), Reid is invoking the provisions of Rule 22 (Precedence of Motions) of the Standing Rules of the Senate, which provides, at the Majority Leader's discretion, up to 30 hours of debate if a filibuster is initiated -- as the Republicans will most certainly do, knowing that Reed-Levin may very well have the 51 votes needed for passage.

Sixty votes are needed to achieve cloture (end debate) and move legislation to a full, deciding vote.

Reid will be using the provision of Rule 22 that allows for up to 30 hours of continuous debate once it's made clear -- in this case, by Republicans trying to avoid an up-or-down vote on Reed-Levin -- that there is a desire to continue debating the issue.

more...

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=207

So a bunch of blog posts went up asking Reid to force the Republicans to filibuster instead of just caving on not getting a 60 votes margin. I had been led to believe that movement on this was unlikely, but it's really intriguing what Bob Geiger just reported. Within the Senate caucus, there's genuine frustration with the Republicans on Iraq to the point where they are beginning to engage in aggressive theatrics to get their point across and hold the Republicans accountable.



Apparently we're not the only ones frustrated that Republicans are blocking an end to the occupation. This doesn't quite go far enough, but it's fascinating. I wonder how much this is an independent move by a frustrated Reid, and how much it reflects what Senator Kent Conrad said earlier, which is that this is a developing consensus within the caucus.

This is gonna be good.

intention of backing down.:D

I'll overnight it. Go Harry GO!

That would get the whole country's attention!

New material for some.

go forth and earn thy paychecks!

if the pubs can take the heat

That I would stay up all night to see.

If the Dems prevail and the amendment is passed, wouldn't that accomplish the mandate on which they were elected, that being to end the war in Iraq? If so, let's talk impeachment next!

just warning y'all, he might throw a monkey wrench in that 51-votes count.

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jul/16/senate_staffer_explains_reids_maneuver_to_force_gop_into_all_night_filibuster

Senate Staffer Explains Reid's Maneuver
By Greg Sargent | bio

Harry Reid's announcement that he'll force Repubs into an all-night filibuster on Iraq is being greeted far and wide as great news, but the procedural ins and outs remain bewildering.

I linked below to Bob Geiger's explanation of how such a maneuver would work. But a knowledgeable Senate staffer writes in to clarify things further:

The portion of Rule 22 that Geiger discusses simply says that after cloture is invoked, there is a maximum of 30 hours of debate until an up or down vote on the matter. So that's what would happen if the Democrats get 60 votes on the cloture motion that Reid will file today on the Levin-Reed amendment. Under Rule 22, whether or not the Senate stays in session all night tonight or Tuesday night, that vote will happen one hour after the Senate convenes on Wednesday (unless the Senate agrees by unanimous consent to a different time for the vote). If the cloture motion fails, then debate on the amendment continues and the 30 hour time limit never starts. So what Reid is doing is simply using his power as majority leader to keep the Senate open while the cloture motion "ripens."