Senate OKs modest restrictions on filibusters - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Senate OKs modest restrictions on filibusters

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WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate has voted to impose modest limits on filibusters, the procedural delays that outnumbered senators use to kill bills and nominations.

The agreement ends threats by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to use majority Democratic votes to impose even stricter limits over Republican objections. That move - called the "nuclear option" - would have been all but certain to worsen the chamber's partisan divide and slow Senate work to a near halt.

Minorities still would be able to force majorities to have 60 of the Senate's 100 votes to end filibusters on bills and nominations. But the changes would reduce the number of filibusters allowed.

In return, Democrats would have to allow Republicans at least two amendments on a bill - which Democrats sometimes currently don't allow.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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