Public Access America

07 July 2021 / Public Access America / shorts INTRODUCTIONThere is a lot of conversation about the filibuster. What it stands for, who it’s been used by, what might happen if it was to be eliminated. But I'm not sure all of the hand ringing is necessary. Defenders of the filibuster warn us of its demise, and advocates cry that it must be eliminated, but only a few voices and comments have mentioned the exemptions to the filibuster.Used by republican and democrat alike. The filibuster has 161 exemptions. So in my search for answers I made a note. AGENDATo learn about this political issue from a non political perspective. NOTESOnce a bill gets to a vote on the Senate floor, it requires a simple majority of 51 votes to pass after debate has ended. But there’s a catch: before it can get to a vote, it actually takes 60 votes to cut off debate, which is why a 60-vote supermajority is now considered the de facto minimum for passing legislation in the Senate.Under original Senate rules, cutting off debate require