Today an appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals was filibustered (for the second time). She had a positive vote of 51 to 41 — a majority in favor — but that wasn’t sufficient.

That is unconstitutional obstruction of the people’s business — by Democrats as well as Republicans. There is nothing in the Constitution authorizing senators to hold nominations hostage to a willful minority.

Senators like the filibuster because it increases their personal power (to extract campaign contributions, among other things) — but it’s a violation of their oath to the Constitution and to serving the public.

— Rick Wicks

Anchorage