Wyden Prevails on Secret Holds, Merkley Doesn't On Filibusters

Sen. Ron Wyden
By HANK STERN

We've written a bit about efforts by Oregon's two Democratic senators to make major procedural reforms in the U.S. Senate.

Today, both Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley learned the fate of their efforts.

Wyden prevailed in his effort to ban secret holds, the practice that allowed any senator to hold up virtually any bill, resolution or nomination without any disclosure of who that senator is.

Merkley, however, fell short in his effort to make major changes to the filibuster, the practice that allows any senator to bring the chamber to a halt without end.

Here's what Wyden had to say in a press release about today's result:

And here's what Merkley had to say:

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