Jeff Merkley, George Bailey and an Online Petition

By HANK STERN

Jeff Merkley

We’ve written a bit about efforts by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to reform the filibuster so the Senate doesn’t get bogged down so easily.

The Oregon Democrat today launched an online petition effort at BlueOregon to drum up support for a reform he and Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) are proposing for the filibuster. Merkley notes that one of their proposals is a requirement that senators who are participating in a filibuster stay on the Senate floor ala “Mr. Smith” in this Jimmy Stewart classic.



online petition
Jimmy Stewart movie

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