Major Jewish Organizations Insist on Basic Changes in Senate Rules

Major Jewish organizations today issued a joint statement opposing the proposed change in Senate rules which the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration reported out yesterday. The statement emphasized that the proposed change “does little to disturb the present veto power which a minority can exercise through the filibuster.”

The statement was signed by the American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress. Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith. Jewish Labor Committee, Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Union of American Hebrew Congregations. It was released by the National Community Relations Advisory Council, coordinating agency for the foregoing and 27 local Jewish community councils throughout the country.

“The proposed change from two-thirds of the Senate to two-thirds of the Senators present and voting has more the appearance than the substance of an improvement, for in any significant debate attendance of the Senate is likely to be complete.” the statement of the Jewish groups pointed out.

“Termination of debate.” the statement continued, “should be possible whenever a majority of Senators present and voting come to the conclusion that the question at issue has been adequately discussed – with proper safeguards, of course, against the abuse of majority power to gag the minority. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting is required by the Constitution, only in exceptional cases, such as overriding a Presidential veto or impeachment of the Chief Executive.

“It is preposterous that a similar number should be required to permit the Senate to proceed to a vote when the vote itself, on issues which may fundamentally affect the welfare of the nation, may be decided by a simple majority. No civil rights law has been enacted since 1875, and none is likely to be as long as the two-thirds cloture requirement stands. The proposed change leaves undisturbed the present provision forbidding any cloture at all on resolutions to change the rules, an act of legislative abdication unparalleled in the history of legislative bodies.

“The Senate Committee had before it proposals that would have permitted termination of debate by a majority vote after assuring ample opportunity for every point of view to be heard. This is the sensible democratic way. Any other procedure can only be regarded as designed to obstruct and render impotent the will of the majority, even on trivial issues,” the statement concluded.