How long is a day?

[CARLHAYDEN]

On Wednesday night, Reid made the procedural move to extend the first legislative day of the 112th Congress until Jan. 25, since proponents say changes to Senate rules can be made on that initial day with a simple majority vote of 51 senators instead of the usual two-thirds threshold.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47186.html#ixzz1AOGAMwGu

[tpfkaw]

Wow, Harry Reid's definition of a "day" is even looser than Marokai's, although I'm sure the latter will soon be adjusted accordingly.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Reid is neither the first politician nor the last politician to redefine what is a day.  For example, it is a not at all uncommon tactic used in State legislatures that must cease meeting by a date certain if they haven't finished with the budget.  A similar time tactic was used once for other reasons over in Atlasia.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Reid is neither the first politician nor the last politician to redefine what is a day.  For example, it is a not at all uncommon tactic used in State legislatures that must cease meeting by a date certain if they haven't finished with the budget.  A similar time tactic was used once for other reasons over in Atlasia.

So how does that work exactly?  Do they have to vote on that, or is that a power left to the presiding officer?

[Meeker]

Reid is neither the first politician nor the last politician to redefine what is a day.  For example, it is a not at all uncommon tactic used in State legislatures that must cease meeting by a date certain if they haven't finished with the budget.  A similar time tactic was used once for other reasons over in Atlasia.

So how does that work exactly?  Do they have to vote on that, or is that a power left to the presiding officer?

A legislative day can't end without an adjournment. If you call a recess (even a two-week recess) it's still the same legislative day.

[Free Palestine]

Let's make it happen.  Slow down the Earth's rotation!

[Silent Hunter]

Reid is neither the first politician nor the last politician to redefine what is a day.  For example, it is a not at all uncommon tactic used in State legislatures that must cease meeting by a date certain if they haven't finished with the budget.  A similar time tactic was used once for other reasons over in Atlasia.

So how does that work exactly?  Do they have to vote on that, or is that a power left to the presiding officer?

A legislative day can't end without an adjournment. If you call a recess (even a two-week recess) it's still the same legislative day.

Yes, that's correct. We managed to have something like a 70-hour day in the Commons a couple of years ago.

[CARLHAYDEN]

With the month just about over, the Democrats in the Senate decided to call it a day, and gave up on eliminating the filibuster.

Nice exploration of what went on:

http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/congress/2011/01/senate-quiet-death-filibuster-reform

[Landslide Lyndon]

With the month just about over, the Democrats in the Senate decided to call it a day, and gave up on eliminating the filibuster.

Nice exploration of what went on:

http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/congress/2011/01/senate-quiet-death-filibuster-reform

The usual mind-numbing hackery from Byron York.
First, nobody wanted to eliminate filibuster. That's an outright lie and York is either a liar or an idiot (quite possibly both).

Second, it wasn't "liberal Democrats" who believed that the rules can change during the first day of a new session by a simple majority. The guy who actually made that ruling was that well known "liberal icon" Richard Nixon back in the 50's, when as Vice-President he was the presiding officer of the Senate.