Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Darryl Paulson: The filibuster, the nuclear option and the future of American politics

Published on April 11, 2017 in 2017/Top Headlines by Darryl Paulson

What little Americans know about the filibuster is due to James Stewart‘s portrayal of Senator Jefferson Smith in the classic movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. In the movie, Senator Smith filibusters a fraudulent land deal until finally collapsing on the Senate floor. This past week, it was the filibuster that collapsed on the Senate floor as the “nuclear option” was invoked by Senate Republicans. History of the filibuster. The early Congress did not recognize the ability to filibuster. Senators…

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The week ahead: Tally turns into Capital City

Published on March 1, 2015 in Top Headlines by James Call

Tallahassee will become the capital city this week when lawmakers arrive at the state capitol Tuesday for the 2015 Legislative Session and begin debate on how to spend $77 billion. Other issues as well will be considered during the next 10 weeks; developing a state water policy, curbing the use of standardize test in public schools, allowing guns on university campuses, and changing regulations governing alcohol, gambling and marijuana. For the inhabitants of the Capitol Political Media bubble the two-months…

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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

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