The U.S. Senate has a new motto: “If it’s broke, don’t fix it.” Democratic lawmakers had a prime opportunity to end the epic abuse of the filibuster and restore the Senate’s reputation as the “world’s greatest deliberative body.” But a gutsy effort by Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Tom Udall, D-N.M.,
The federal government appears to have succeeded in preventing the financial crisis of 2008 from causing a broad economic collapse. Yet the housing market, where reckless excesses led to the crisis two years ago, is still in turmoil, and until it stabilizes a real economic recovery can’t take hold —
When you think about the filibuster, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For many Americans, it’s still the classic 1939 flick, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” in which a hoarse, exhausted Sen. Jefferson Smith, played by Jimmy Stewart, uses the filibuster to stop special interests from killing plans
Standing on her doorstep with U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley Wednesday, Kristie Duncan of Medford described how she tried for three years to get a loan modification while in foreclosure and failed — until she tapped the clout and savvy of ACCESS Inc. housing counselors. “It’s been a nightmare, with 50
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) unveiled a plan Tuesday to help struggling homeowners and reduce foreclosures as the housing market continues to find its footing. “We’re not going to see a true economic recovery until we do something about the broken housing market,” Merkley said. Merkley’s proposal would provide a
Both Oregon senators and Rep. Peter DeFazio have asked Department of Veterans Affairs SecretaryEric Shinseki to stop a process that is likely to change the way the federal agency provides care and services to southern Oregon veterans. They professed dismay with the direction of an independent review of the VA
The Environmental Protection Agency responded Wednesday to a request from Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley to clear the way for the production of biomass energy in Oregon and other states by announcing that EPA will exempt carbon emissions from biomass facilities from Clean Air Act regulation for at least three years.
The new Senate will face one of its most momentous decisions in its opening hours on Wednesday: a vote on whether to change its rules to prohibit the widespread abuse of the filibuster. Americans are fed up with Washington gridlock. The Senate should seize the opportunity. A filibuster — the
This year, along with all the carols, gift returning and ceremonial watchings of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Jeff Merkley has a whole new idea for a seasonal activity. “We need to say to the American people, over the holidays,” he proposes, “please engage in a debate if you think the
Senate Democrats are moving toward some version of filibuster reform. And one of the primary agitators behind that project has been Sen. Jeff Merkley (Ore.). It’s his reform proposal — a modest document that doesn’t end the filibuster so much as bring it closer into alignment with what the public
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