House Speaker John Boehner declared on Tuesday that any bills passed by Democrats under new filibuster rules would be “dead on arrival.”
“Any bill that reaches a Republican-led House based on Senate Democrats’ heavy-handed power play would be dead on arrival,” the Ohio Republican told Human Events.
“Senate Democrats’ attempt to break Senate rules in order to change Senate rules is clearly designed to marginalize Senate Republicans and their constituents while greasing the skids for controversial partisan measures,” he added.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is working to limit Republicans’ ability to filibuster legislation. The Nevada Democrat has said his goal is to prevent the GOP from using the filibuster often.
Leading the opposition is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who says the change would eliminate GOP senators’ effectiveness in representing constituents.
“I question the wisdom of this maneuver, especially at a time when cooperation on Capitol Hill is critical, and fully support Leader McConnell’s efforts to protect minority rights, which are an essential part of our constitutional tradition,” Boehner told Human Events.
Reid hopes to change the rules when the new term begins next month. Democrats will control the chamber 55 to 45.
A filibuster requires 60 senators to overcome it.
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