Steven Taylor has been blogging up a storm on the media-appointed Conscience of the Senate, Robert Byrd, and his ever-shifting views on the inviolability of the filibuster. He chronicles the history of the filibuster, and notes the many changes to the practice over the years, including a significant one in 1975, when Byrd was Majority LeaderWhip*, which reduced the number of votes required to end debate from 67 to 60. Upon investigation, it turns out that Byrd actually authored this rule change. Finally, he Fisks a recent Byrd op-ed and explains why the “right to debate” argument is a canard.
Correction: Taylor notes that Byrd, who would later become Leader, was Whip in 1975.
