To the Editor:
Re “9/11 Health Bill Blocked in U.S. Senate, but Backers Hold Hope” (news article, Dec. 10):
Like most Americans, I am completely disgusted by the state of the Senate today. As long as the possibility of a filibuster exists, nothing will ever get done. The Senate Republicans have made it abundantly clear that they have only one agenda: to stop the Democrats from doing anything at all. It has to stop now!
The Republicans have completely paralyzed the legislative branch, and consistently put their own selfish agenda ahead of the welfare of the nation. There must be some way to do away with filibusters so that the Senate can actually vote on things that matter.
If the Senate cares anything about this country—and I believe some senators do—its members will get together and eliminate the filibuster once and for all. The future of our nation depends on it.
William H. Carey
Ferndale, Mich., Dec. 10, 2010
Note from KBJ: The purpose of the filibuster rule is to ensure that legislation has substantial backing. It is working just as planned. Why do I think that if the parties were reversed, the letter writer would be singing the praises of the filibuster rule?
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 