Senate process must be revamped

By Terry Cox, Henderson

Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 | 2:01 a.m.

Once again, the Senate has refused to allow a bill to restore payments to the long-term unemployed to move forward.

Regardless of one’s party affiliation or views on that particular piece of legislation, I think all concerned Americans (at least those concerned enough to vote) should be outraged.

How can a bill fail when it passes by a vote of 58-40? In the Senate, this means the bill can’t advance because it lacks the votes to break a filibuster. Is this what America means by majority rule? If so, heaven help us.

The Senate is now under the control of a radical minority. A well-organized minority did the same thing from the 1940s until the mid-1960s to derail civil rights legislation. It wasn’t right then, and it’s not right today.

Our nation is confronted with a multitude of serious issues. Is this how our politicians are going to address them — by not addressing them?

What is the message the minority is sending to the millions of people who could be affected by the legislation?

Whatever they’re saying, lawmakers should have the courage to actually vote on the legislation and let the people decide if they agree or disagree with them.

The rules must be changed, and that can’t come quickly enough. Serious issues must be seriously addressed.