Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) blames the inability of Senate Democrats to produce and present a budget in over 950 days on the use of the filibuster by the Republicans. However, under standing Senate rules budget bills cannot be filibustered. Durbin, who seemed unaware of this fact, expressed how difficult it is to get 60 votes on anything, complaining that Republican "ranks rarely split."
Reminded by Scarborough that a budget also serves as the party in power's "vision for America," regardless if it is passed or not, Durbin said he couldn't "argue the point." Transcript below.
Joe Scarborough, MSNBC host: "As the lone Republican, not only on this set, but in this zip code, let me ask you a couple of questions. First of all, big conservative complaint when you start -- you watch this show, so you understand. I go after Republicans with equal zeal as Democrats in Washington. But it seems to me Republicans have a good argument to make when they say you want to talk about the dysfunction of the last year, let's look at the Democratic Senate. They haven't produced a budget in over 900 days. That's a legitimate gripe, isn't it?"
Sen. Dick Durbin: "It's legitimate in this respect, Joe. Going back to the point made earlier, when you start hammering 60 votes on to everything, our majority is a majority of name only. 53 Democratic Senators in most instances will need the help of Republicans to move forward and their ranks rarely split. Susan Collins (R-Maine) was the only Republican Senator to join us in a bipartisan effort to extend the tax cut."
Scarborough: "But that doesn't stop you and your budget committee from producing a budget. To produce a blueprint to say this is the Democratic vision for America's future. And that hasn't happened in over 900 days."
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