Tolbert: Harry Reid Claims He ‘Could Have Gotten’ Pryor’s Vote On Filibuster Rules

If you missed it last week, the Democratic — but less-than-filibuster-proof — majority in the U.S. Senate voted to do away with an age-old rule that required 60 Senators to vote to invoke cloture, end debate, and thereby break a filibuster to allow a vote on legislation or – in this case – confirmation of the President’s nominees to the courts and the executive branch.

The so called “nuclear option” was opposed by Democrats when the shoe was on the other foot, but circumstances change and flip-flops have become a fashionable Washington accessory.

Our own Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor took the occasion to break with his standard 90-plus percentage voting record with Obama and cast a rare vote with the Republicans against the rule change.

“Today’s use of the ‘nuclear option’ could permanently damage the Senate and have negative ramifications for the American people. During my time in the Senate, I’ve played key roles in the Gang of 14 and other bipartisan coalitions to help us reach common-sense solutions that both sides of the aisle can support. This institution was designed to protect – not stamp out – the voices of the minority,” trumpeted Pryor in a statement following the vote.

Before you go give Pryor the old “Attaboy!” pat on the back, you might be interested in hearing what Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Monday morning.  Reid defended the rules change on the Diane Rehm Show on NPR radio saying the Republicans forced him to make this change by blocking President Obama’s nominees.  Then he offered this…

“I had no choice and that’s why the Democratic caucus – my Senators – responded almost to the person to not do this. We had 3 Democrats that did not vote with us, but frankly if I needed a couple of those I could have gotten those too,” boasted Reid.

The 3 Senators that voted against the rule change included Pryor, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, and Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan.  Obviously, it only took 51 votes to sustain the ruling of the chair that a simple majority could end debate and therefore break the filibuster.  Since the Democrats had this majority without Pryor, he got a pass.  However, he quickly turned around the next minute and voted with his Democratic colleagues to advance Obama’s judicial nominee, Patricia Ann Millett.

So when Pryor starts talking about how he does not vote with Obama, remember this important footnote to the story.