Cruz Launches Filibuster Opposing Obamacare

Alan: See "Just How Unpopular Is Ted Cruz?" http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-remarkable-unpopularity-of-ted-cruz.html

By Ed O'Keefe and Paul Kane, Published: September 24, 2013

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) began an attempt to slow debate over a short-term spending measure Tuesday afternoon by launching an old-fashioned talking filibuster in opposition to the new federal health-care law, saying that he will continue speaking "until I am no longer able to stand."

"I rise today in opposition to Obamacare," Cruz said as he began his remarks, saying he would be speaking on behalf of millions of Texans and Americans opposed to the new health-care law.

"A great many Texans, a great many Americans feel they do not have a voice, and so I hope to play some very small role in providing the voice," he said.

By holding the floor, Cruz and his allies are launching what most Americans know as a traditional filibuster, or the practice of holding the Senate floor for several hours on end by speaking perhaps best epitomized in the movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."

But even if Cruz were physically capable of speaking for more than 24 hours -- the longest filibuster in U.S. history is 24 hours and 18 minutes by the late Sen. Strom Thurmond and other southern senators opposed to civil rights laws -- there are already parliamentary procedures in place that dictate that Cruz will have to yield the floor by Wednesday afternoon at the latest.

At that point, the Senate is scheduled to hold a key procedural test vote that is certain to pass with bipartisan support.

Cruz, a freshman senator, said he will be joined in his efforts by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who was seated in the Senate chamber when Cruz began speaking at 2:42 p.m. The two senators have vowed to use whatever Senate procedural tactics are available to slow debate on the legislation.

During their weekly luncheon earlier Tuesday, fellow Republicans urged Cruz to stand down and agree to quickly pass the spending measure and send it back to the House for potential amendments, according to two senators in the room. But Cruz refused the request, the senators said, meaning the Senate likely will continue debating the measure through the weekend, giving House Republican just a few hours to pass a new spending bill before the Oct. 1 deadline.

Asked as he exited the launch how long he planned to talk, Cruz told reporters: "We shall see."

Minutes later, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he agreed that the Senate should move quickly to pass the spending measure and return it to the House.

"My own view is that it would be to the advantage of our colleagues in the House who are in the majority to shorten the process and if the majority leader were to ask us to shorten the process, I would not object," McConnell told reporters.

"If the House doesn't get what we send over there until Monday, they're in a pretty tough spot," McConnell added later. "My own view is the House, having passed a bill that I really like and that I support, I hate to put them in a tough spot."