Liberals fear changing filibuster rules would hurt abortion “rights”
As Democrats consider whether to use the so-called nuclear option to rewrite the Senate’s filibuster rules, one issue in particular has some liberals worried: abortion.
Changing the rules to make it easier to confirm President Barack Obama’s executive branch or judicial appointments may help the White House in the short term…. But privately, that base and abortion rights supporters are concerned how a future GOP president and Senate could take advantage of the new setup.
One Democratic aide described abortion rights groups as “wary of using the nuclear option to lower the threshold to 50 votes for judges because they’re afraid of what it could mean for women’s health,” although no group would go on the record, citing sensitive congressional negotiations. And several Democratic senators agreed the future of abortion rights is one of the top concerns for the party in the fight over rules….
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has threatened to use the nuclear option to speed things up. Simply put, the Senate would vote by a simple majority to prohibit filibusters on certain types of nominations – bringing the threshold to 50 votes rather than the 60 needed to break a filibuster.
~ Politico, June 6
[Photo from classic movie, Mr. Smith goes to Washington, where Jimmy Stewart plays a new ideological senator who filibusters for 24 hours straight to spotlight his cause]

And several Democratic senators agreed the future of abortion rights is one of the top concerns for the party in the fight over rules….
Paging “Pro-Life” ex-RINO, please remove your blinders and take notice.
When have I ever pretended that abortion wasn’t a hot topic issue that the Democrats defended? Are you new here? Did somebody hijack your account? Look at the funding of the political parties, and you’ll know what they are going to go to bat for. Democrats are willing to lose their jobs over abortion. Republicans are willing to lose their job over guns and millionaires. When did this become new to you?
Rigging the system….without the consent of the people…things that make you go hmm…or require one to say: “Welcome to Canada, America.”
“they’re afraid of what it could mean for women’s health,”
They just had to use their favorite euphemism. “Women’s health” is what this is about, really? Is someone trying to ban mammograms or something?
Tyler -
The history of the filibuster is an interesting read – the two sides have fought about it since the start of this country - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster_in_the_United_States_Senate
The 2005 debate on this had Frist arguing that Cheaney could simply come in, eliminate the filibuster, and then it would just take a majority vote moving forward.
So yeah, this is nothing new.
Unfortunately, the way the GOP is headed, I don’t think this is something the Democrats have to worry about.
They should be afraid. Rand Paul’s next filibuster would likely be on the topic of abortion, and they’ll have nowhere to hide.