Sen. Johnson says, regarding the filibuster deal last night:
Johnson said on the Senate floor Monday that the nation's founders understood the legislative body would take the longer view, be more deliberative and not march to any ideological drummer. The 60-vote margin rule has enforced that different character in the Senate and served Americans well, he said.
"Both parties know that in order to make much of anything happen here, they must reach across the aisle," Johnson said.
The Constitution, as I think I've pointed out before, defines with precision those cases in which a super-majority is necessary. Overriding vetos, ratifying treaties, passing Constitutional amendments. Unless otherwise indicated, simple majority rule is assumed. A look at Federalist #51 suggests that the rights of the minority are protected by the mechanism of the separation of powers, not by some parchment rule thought up after the fact. Right now the Democrat's passion for the rights of the minority is enough to make John Calhoun blush.
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