Merkley, Udall Call for Bipartisan Dialogue To Restore Senate's Ability o Operate Effectively

Press Release

Today, Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley and Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to invite all U.S. Senators to begin a conversation on how to restore the Senate's capacity to effectively do the people's business.

In their address, the Senators highlighted how the current Senate procedures inhibit the Senate's ability to pass legislation and have harmed the institution's reputation as the "world's greatest deliberative body."

"In 2015, it's become clear that the frustration with the broken Senate is a bipartisan, equal opportunity frustration," said Merkley. "Democrats and Republicans today have something deeply in common -- a common interest in fixing the broken Senate. We need to work together to restore the Senate, and I invite all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me and Sen. Udall in this dialogue."

"I support any senator's right to oppose bad legislation, but abusing the Senate rules has only served to hurt the American people. We still need common-sense reforms, like a talking filibuster: if you want to filibuster, you should have to go to the floor and make your case," Udall said. "Americans want a government that is fair, that is reasonable and that works. I'm proud of the progress we've made, but we still have a lot of work to do to ensure the Senate works for the American people again. I'll keep pushing for these changes no matter who is in the majority."

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