Sen. Udall’s idea of improved bipartisanship in the Senate

Wednesday, Sen. Mark Udall called on his colleagues to adopt changes to the Senate's rules that he has suggested, which would help the Senate operate more smoothly while also improving bipartisan cooperation. Udall first announced his rules proposal in September, when it was endorsed by Norman Ornstein, a noted scholar at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute.

“The reason I developed this proposal in September was because I was frustrated with the level of obstruction in the Senate. But we aren't going to get better cooperation if we jam one party's position over another, especially since we all know political fortunes change. We need to find a way to work together so we can accomplish what Americans elected us to do. Job one is getting our country's economy back on track while reducing the national debt,” Udall said. “I believe we can do that - but only if we set aside the ideological differences that have poisoned our politics up to now.”

“Today's discussion is more than just an esoteric debate about the Senate's rules - if we change them so that the Senate works more efficiently, it can be a critical turning point,” Udall continued. “My resolution can help reduce the opportunity for gridlock, while also encouraging both sides to work together on the most important issues we face in our nation. I hope that our colleagues will join me to seize the opportunity we have before us: to work together to improve the way the Senate operates, and in doing so, encourage the kind of cooperation that Americans expect and deserve.”