Advocacy Update: Calling All Erin Fans

February 29, 2008

Some of you may wonder why the Senate has not yet voted on the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act (S.911). Here is my, probably flawed, understanding:

Historically, any Senator has the right to filibuster any bill. This means they can take the floor and speak continuously without yielding, thus "talking the bill to death." A vote for cloture breaks a filibuster. That means that if three-fifths of the Senators want the bill to be considered, they can break the filibuster. It also means that 41 Senators can keep a bill from consideration because they can threaten to vote against cloture.

Right now, 53 Senators have signed on as co-sponsors to the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, S. 911, and 47 have not. So, even though a majority of Senators obviously support the bill (as evidenced by their willingness to publicly co-sponsor) and even though it only takes a majority to pass the bill, it will not get to the floor for a vote until it can demonstrate enough support (60 co-sponsors) to pass cloture without ever actually having to filibuster (can you imagine someone standing up and filibustering against the CCCA? I can't, but unless the members in favor can get 60 publicly on their side, those against the bill don't have to reveal themselves).

What does this mean? It means bad news for all of you who got very friendly letters from your Senators who have not yet signed on, saying something like "should S. 911 come for consideration before the full Senate, you may be certain that I will keep your views in mind." They make it look like they will weigh your views, but they may not intend for the bill to ever reach the full Senate.

Earlier this week (Monday night), a couple of the bill's co-sponsors (Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon) used floor time to plea their case to their colleagues blocking the bill. This is a link to a fifteen minute video of their speeches. Today is the day you should pick up the phone and call your non-sponsoring Senators. Ask them to sign on so that the bill can get a hearing and pass, if it is the will of a majority in the Senate.

Here is a list of all the non-sponsoring Senators, as of noon today. Texans should note that Senator Hutchinson still remains in this category. There is also a handy email link for each of these Senators. If you don't have time to phone them. Drop them one more line. Please.

Tell them Erin is going to keep jumping rope in protest until they get with the program.