MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript

Interview

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SEN. JEFF MERKLEY (D), OREGON: Well, actually, Ed, we"re not planning to gut it, we"re planning to make it do what we all think it does, that is if 41 folks say, debate should continue, then the debate should continue but you shouldn"t be able to object, go home to dinner, take a vacation and never appear on the floor and explain to the American people what to stand for. So, if you say to be continued, you need to be ready to have continuous debate on the floor, make your stand, give the American people the ability to say, hey, you"re a hero or you"re a bum, but not to just simply leave the Senate paralyzed, unable to do anything.

SCHULTZ: So with today"s politics, it was really not intended to be a standard operating procedure of political tool to stop an agenda?

MERKLEY: No, that"s right. This was all about making sure that every voice is heard before a decision is made but that courtesy has now been turned into a regular abusive practice. For example, on food safety, a bill we just completed. There was a filibuster on motion to proceed to the bill, on an amendment on the bill, and on final passage of the bill and each time and we think filibusters stand on the floor and talk, no, it"s simply an objection that is filed and when that objection is filed, then in fact--and I"m losing my sound here, sorry--when that objection is filed, then they can walk away and we don"t have debate on the floor. So, we"re saying there must be debate on the floor that serves the people, that serves America.

SCHULTZ: And how do you think Republicans are going to respond to this you? You know, the shoe"s always on the other foot at one time or another in history. I mean, do you think that they recognize that this has to be amended in some sense?

MERKLEY: Yes, I think that they realize that the Senate is broken whether republican or democrat being unable to act because the Senate has to sit around and continuous form of call, doesn"t work. And they"re looking down two years, whatever we do now, we have to say, we have to be willing to with this when we"re in the minority.

SCHULTZ: Well, that"s true. And that"s the thing, is that the minority voice isn"t going to be as strong if this is changed the way you want it, I mean that"s how I see it.

MERKLEY: I think that it"ll be stronger because we"ll be on the floor making our case to the American people. Not filing an objection and taking off on vacation.

SCHULTZ: Yes, but when it"s a simple majority, that changes things, doesn"t

MERKLEY: Well, it doesn"t take it to a simple majority. We leave in place under this reform, the 60/40 structure. We just say, as long as you think, you have 41 that want to continue debate, debate has to continue, but it has to be debate. Not some motion that leaves us doing nothing for days at a time the way it is right now.

SCHULTZ: Senator.

MERKLEY: This is a pretty.

SCHULTZ: Yes. It"s a pretty what?

MERKLEY: It"s a pretty minor change, in the sense that it does what American people think, that you"re going to stand up and make your case.

SCHULTZ: Senator, good to have you with us tonight. Thanks so much.

I appreciate it.

MERKLEY: Good to be with you.

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