Need clarification (rating, party, states, claim)

[jambo101]

As a Canadian used to the parliamentary system i'm not understanding how the Republicans are holding up any legislation the Democrats want to put in motion dont the Democrats have their man as head honcho and dont they have a majority in the house and senate?

[Smash255]

In the Senate while it takes 51 votes to pass legislation or 50 + VP, in order to get to a final up or down vote on legislation a Cloture vote takes place. 60 votes are needed to proceed to a final up or down vote. Both sides have used this cloture requirement in the past to block legislation that had majority support from receiving a final up or down vote, this process is called a filibuster. While it has been used by both the Democrats and Republicans in the past, the Republicans are breaking all sorts of filibuster records. They have also threatened to filibuster legislation, which can possibly stop the legislation dead in its tracks.

[aspiesmom]

Originally Posted by jambo101

As a Canadian used to the parliamentary system i'm not understanding how the Republicans are holding up any legislation the Democrats want to put in motion dont the Democrats have their man as head honcho and dont they have a majority in the house and senate?

When you figure it out, please let us Yanks know, it is frustrating as hell living in America these days. We have what we call Blue Dogs in Dem Party, they are corporatist too like the entire GOP. USA is sinking fast because this much I know> it's the United Corporations of America, NOT the United States.

[Willsson]

Not all legislation is a simple matter, in topic. A bill may be liked by both sides but a Representative may add a rider to a bill that would propose or fund something that has absolutely nothing to do with said bill but would make that bill completely undesirable to the other side. This has frequently been the case this past year, thus claiming the Republicans to be the party of NO.