Yes, it ought to go without saying that it is pretty rare in modern times for one party to control as many as sixty seats in the U.S. Senate. And that means that progressive solutions are impossible most of the time. A lot of what has passed during the Obama administration had progressive elements, but none of it was passed on progressive terms. The best bill was the Credit CARD Bill of 2009, which I consider to be a very solid piece of progressive legislation. The Stimulus Bill was also a solid piece of progressive legislation. Both the health care bill and the Wall Street Reforms had major progressive advances in them. But all of this legislation would have been better if the Senate only required a simply majority to pass bills.

But it’s not even that fact that really disturbs me. What disturbs me is that a president with control of 59 seats in the Senate can’t even bring up bills on pressing issues that he campaigned on, like climate change, ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and immigration reform. He can’t even get his nominees a vote.

That’s why the Senate rules need to change.

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