in the Senate. When I see votes being taking on Iraq, the Republicans are blocking the Dems from ending the war.
I AM AN UNAFILLIATED voter...so don't go ballistic. Reasonable answers please.
2007-02-20 10:48:33 · 9 answers · asked by imask8r 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Civic Participation
Actually, the division is:
Democrats - 51
Republicans - 47
Independent - 2
But the vote was for a resolution to force an immediate vote on the Bill itself, which requires a 3/5 margin, or 60 votes, of the entire 100 member Senate to pass the resolution. 4 people were absent, creating a vote of 49 - 47 in favor, 11 votes short of stopping the Republicans from debating the vote on the bill till Hell freezes over..4 Senators were not present. A second vote on the resolution was taken on 2/17, with results of 56 - 34, 4 votes short of ending debate.
So a third vote will be required on the resolution.
2007-02-21 15:17:14 · answer #1 · answered by bob h 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, it was note a vote to end the war. It was a non-binding resolution to protect the troop surge that Bush wants. You are referring to a procedure called a filibuster.
A filibuster is an attempt to extend debate upon a proposal in order to delay or completely prevent a vote on its passage. The term first came into use in the United States Senate, where Senate rules permit a senator, or a series of senators, to speak for as long as they wish and on any topic they choose, unless a supermajority group of 60 Senators brings debate to a close by invoking cloture.
That means the Democrats would need to convince 10 others to go against President Bush to end debate and have a vote. That didn't happen, so the resolution failed.
2007-02-20 10:57:42 · answer #2 · answered by Carl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Republicans had elicited support from the majority of the members of the Senate and it blocked the move of the Democrats regarding the Iraq war. Senate is always a numbers game and not compulsion by the media.
2007-02-20 15:50:03 · answer #3 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do. However, for the non-binging resolution to pass, it needed 60 votes. they got 56. 34 voted against. A majority, yes, but not quite enough.
1 senator, Tim Johnson (D) is in the hospital, so he isn't able to vote right now. 9 Senators decided not to show up, for one reason or another.
2007-02-20 10:55:12 · answer #4 · answered by amg503 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes the Democrats have the majority but in the Senate, most all legislation (not all but major stuff) requires 60 or more votes to pass.
2007-02-22 09:47:52 · answer #5 · answered by BeachBum 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The vote being held was to skip debate over the resolution and vote for it. The measure (called cloture) requires 60 votes to pass.
The Republicans voted against skipping debate because they wanted to discuss the wording of the resolution. Harry Reid, the majority leader of the Senate called the vote because he did not want debate.
2007-02-20 10:55:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because a super majority is required to get past the possibility of a filibuster.
2007-02-21 17:20:11 · answer #7 · answered by cashcobra_99 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are always some deserters among the ranks.
2007-02-21 08:05:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It takes 60 votes.That's a good thing.We don't need liberals messing up our war.
2007-02-20 10:53:03 · answer #9 · answered by shawnn 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋