Our Founding Fathers provided us with a wonderful democratic system of government. It contains appropriate checks and balances. It provides a means of democratic rule of the majority while the Supreme Court can assure us that minorities will be treated fairly.
Unfortunately, due to clever distortions of congressional rules, our lawmaking process is now being controlled by minority groups that are preventing the majority decision-making process to function as intended. The Senate filibuster process essentially allows any group of 40 senators to block legislation from reaching a floor vote. Similarly, the Speaker of the House can singlehandedly control the agenda of what comes before the House for a vote.
Most recently, a bill that would require background checks for people prior to purchasing a gun — something some 90 percent of Americans support — failed to be voted on because of these filibustering techniques.
It's time to correct this inequity. I suggest a simple approach: Allow both the majority and minority leaders of both chambers to bring legislation to the floor for votes as they see fit. Additionally, allow the president (as the only official to be elected by all Americans) to bring legislation to the floor of Congress for a vote.
And, as for the filibuster, if 40 senators have a point of view they wish to express, let them be heard for three hours and follow it by a vote.
Let's stop making a mockery of our democratic process.
Gary Mittleman
Loudonville