Cloture Rankings as of December 22, 2010

Congressional Session 1121 adjorned on 1/3/2012, 1122 convened 1/3/2012. To See the full list of Cloture legislation become a member of SenateReports.com

Cloture is the only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes. Cloture is used by the Majority Party as a means to justify the end of debate and since the Majority Party dictates what legislation gets to the floor of the Senate in a timely manner it is usually in the best interest of Majority Party politics to vote for cloture to move the Leadership’s legislation along for a final vote. The Minority Party usually ‘rejects’ cloture to continue debating the legislation on the floor or to introduce ‘Table’ Amendments to promote their agendum.

Cloture Rankings List
Last Name First Name State Party Yea's Cloture Percent Rank
Murray Patty Washington Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Kohl Herbert Wisconsin Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Reed Jack Rhode Island Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Whitehouse Sheldon Rhode Island Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Johnson Tim South Dakota Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Udall Mark Colorado Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Dodd Christopher Connecticut Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Feinstein Dianne California Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Akaka Daniel Hawaii Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Burris Roland Illinois Democratic 39 40 98% 1
Cardin Benjamin Maryland Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Mikulski Barbara Maryland Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Kerry John Massachusetts Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Stabenow Debbie Michigan Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Franken Al Minnesota Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Klobuchar Amy Minnesota Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Shaheen Jeanne New Hampshire Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Schumer Charles New York Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Conrad Kent North Dakota Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Dorgan Byron North Dakota Democratic 51 52 98% 1
Kaufman Ted Delaware Democratic 37 38 97% 2
Bennet Michael Colorado Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Gillibrand Kirsten New York Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Casey Robert Pennsylvania Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Webb James Virginia Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Brown Sherrod Ohio Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Bingaman Jeff New Mexico Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Menendez  Robert New Jersey Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Levin Carl Michigan Democratic 50 52 96% 3
McCaskill Claire Missouri Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Inouye Daniel Hawaii Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Durbin Richard Illinois Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Boxer Barbara California Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Carper Thomas Delaware Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Nelson Bill Florida Democratic 50 52 96% 3
Baucus Max Montana Democratic 49 52 94% 4
Merkley Jeff Oregon Democratic 49 52 94% 4
Rockefeller Jay West Virginia Democratic 49 52 94% 4
Cantwell Maria Washington Democratic 48 52 92% 5
Leahy Patrick Vermont Democratic 48 52 92% 5
Sanders Bernard Vermont Independent 48 52 92% 5
Specter Arlen Pennsylvania Democratic 48 52 92% 5
Wyden Ron Oregon Democratic 48 52 92% 5
Lautenberg Frank New Jersey Democratic 48 52 92% 5
Udall Tom New Mexico Democratic 48 52 92% 5
Begich Mark Alaska Democratic 48 52 92% 5
Bayh Evan Indiana Democratic 48 52 92% 5
Harkin Tom Iowa Democratic 48 52 92% 5
Landrieu Mary Louisiana Democratic 48 52 92% 5
Pryor Mark Arkansas Democratic 47 52 90% 6
Lincoln Blanche Arkansas Democratic 47 52 90% 6
Tester Jon Montana Democratic 47 52 90% 6
Hagan Kay North Carolina Democratic 46 52 88% 7
Warner Mark Virginia Democratic 46 52 88% 7
Reid Harry Nevada Democratic 43 52 83% 8
Lieberman Joseph Connecticut Independent 43 52 83% 8
Feingold Russ Wisconsin Democratic 41 52 79% 9
Nelson Ben Nebraska Democratic 35 52 67% 10
Collins Susan Maine Republican 29 52 56% 11
Snowe Olympia Maine Republican 28 52 54% 12
Voinovich George Ohio Republican 22 52 42% 13
Brown Scott Massachusetts Republican 20 49 41% 14
Lugar Richard Indiana Republican 16 52 31% 15
Murkowski Lisa Alaska Republican 15 52 29% 16
Lemieux George Florida Republican 15 52 29% 17
Bond Christopher Missouri Republican 14 52 27% 18
Johanns Mike Nebraska Republican 13 52 25% 19
Cochran Thad Mississippi Republican 13 52 25% 19
Alexander Lamar Tennessee Republican 13 52 25% 19
Bennett Robert Utah Republican 11 52 21% 20
Corker Bob Tennessee Republican 11 52 21% 20
Burr Richard North Carolina Republican 10 52 19% 21
Isakson Johnny Georgia Republican 10 52 19% 21
Grassley Charles Iowa Republican 10 52 19% 21
Vitter David Louisiana Republican 9 52 17% 22
McConnell Mitch Kentucky Republican 9 52 17% 22
Graham Lindsey South Carolina Republican 9 52 17% 22
Enzi Micheal Wyoming Republican 9 52 17% 22
Barrasso John Wyoming  Republican 8 52 15% 23
Thune John South Dakota Republican 8 52 15% 23
Kyl Jon Arizona Republican 8 52 15% 23
Chambliss Saxby Georgia Republican 8 52 15% 23
Wicker Roger Mississippi Republican 8 52 15% 23
Gregg Judd New Hampshire Republican 7 52 13% 24
Hatch Orrin Utah Republican 7 52 13% 24
Cornyn John Texas Republican 6 52 12% 25
Inhofe James Oklahoma Republican 6 52 12% 25
Ensign John Nevada Republican 6 52 12% 25
McCain John Arizona Republican 6 52 12% 25
Shelby Richard Alabama Republican 6 52 12% 25
Bunning Jim Kentucky Republican 6 52 12% 25
Roberts Pat Kansas Republican 6 52 12% 25
Brownback Sam Kansas Republican 5 52 10% 26
Risch Jim Idaho Republican 5 52 10% 26
Crapo Mike Idaho Republican 5 52 10% 26
Sessions Jeff Alabama Republican 5 52 10% 26
Coburn Tom Oklahoma Republican 5 52 10% 26
Hutchison Kay Texas Republican 4 52 8% 27
DeMint Jim South Carolina Republican 3 52 6% 28

To qualify for a Cloture Ranking or any SenateReports.com ranking a Senator must have voted on at least 50% of the 299 roll call votes during the ranking session of the 111th 2nd Congress. The following Senators did not qualify for a SenateReports.com ranking.

LastNameFirstNameStateParty Senate Votes
Kirk Paul Massachusetts Democratic 20
Goodwin Carte West Virginia Democratic 40
Coons Christopher Delaware Democratic 51
Manchin Joe West Virginia Democratic 51
Kirk Mark Illinois Republican 48
Byrd Robert West Virgina Democratic 79

The above Senators were appointed by their State Governors or won a special election to fill a vacant Senate position from their State and did not muster enough votes to qualify for a ranking.

Senator Harry Reid Majority Leader Harry Reid Democrat, Nevada
Senator Reid was ranked 8th (83%) on Cloture votes but managed to get 54 of 59 Democratic Senators to vote on cloture 90% of the time or greater in support of his Democratic proposed legislation during most of the 2010 Congressional year. There were 6 to 7 cloture votes that separated Democratic Senator Ben Nelson ranked 10th (67%) at the bottom for Democrats from Republican Senators Collins (56%) and Snowe (54%) ranked 11 and 12 at the top for Republicans. At times having two Republican Senators voting over 50% on cloture votes was like having two extra Democrats supporting Senator Harry Reid's Democratic leadership.

Reid’s leadership was responsible for 35 of 56 (63%) successful pieces of Democratic Party legislation, of which 8 Bills went on to be passed without the support of the Republican majority of votes. Senator Collins voted for 6 of those 8 (75%) and Senator Snowe voted for 5 of those 8 (63%) while Senator Ben Nelson voted for only 2 of those 8 (25%) Democratic Sponsored Bills.

Bills Passed (2010) Without The Support Of Repubican Majority Of Votes
YEAs NAYs NotVoting Issue Link Description
73 25 2 S.510 Legislation Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard - S. 510 as Amended; FDA Food Safety Modernization Act
69 30 1 H.R.3081 Legislation Signed by President Barack H. Obama 9/30/2010. Became Public Law No: 111-242. Sponsor: Rep Lowey, Nita M - Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by recorded vote: 228 - 194 (Roll no. 564). H.R. 3081 As Amended; Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2010
61 38 1 H.R.5297 Legislation Signed by President Barack H. Obama 9/27/2010 Became Public Law No: 111-240.Sponsor: Rep Frank, Barney - Passage of H.R. 5297, As Amended; Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010
67 28 5 H.R.4899 Legislation Signed by Barack H. Obama 7/29/2010. Became Public Law No: 111-212. Sponsor: Rep Obey, David R. - H.R. 4899, As Amended; Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010
59 39 2 S.3217 Legislation Resolving differences 5/20/2010 -- Senate actions: Senate insisted on its amendment, requested a conference. Sponsor: Rep Frank, Barney - H.R. 4173 As Amended; Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009
59 38 3 H.R.4851 Legislation Signed by President Barack H. Obama 4/15/2010. Became Public Law No: 111-157 4/15/2010. Sponsor: Rep Levin, Sander M. - H.R. 4851 As Amended; Continuing Extension Act of 2010
56 43 1 H.R.4872 Legislation Signed by President Barack H. Obama 3/30/2010. Became Public Law No: 111-152 3/30/2010. Sponsor: Rep Spratt, John M., Jr - H.R. 4872 As Amended; Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
62 36 2 H.R.4213 Legislation Signed by President Barack H.Obama 7/22/2010. Became Public Law No: 111-205. Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. - H.R. 4213 As Amended; Tax Extenders Act of 2009

Bipartisan Senators
Last Name First Name State Party Percent Dem Maj Bills
Collins Susan Maine Republican 75% 6 of 8
Snowe Olympia Maine Republican 63% 5 of 8
Voinovich George Ohio Republican 63% 5 of 8
Alexander Lamar Tennessee Republican 38% 3 of 8
Bond Christopher Missouri Republican 38% 3 of 8
Brown Scott Massachusetts Republican 38% 3 of 8
Feingold Russ Wisconsin Democratic 38% 3 of 8
Grassley Charles Iowa Republican 38% 3 of 8
Johanns Mike Nebraska Republican 38% 3 of 8
Lemieux George Florida Republican 38% 3 of 8
Lugar Richard Indiana Republican 38% 3 of 8
Murkowski Lisa Alaska Republican 38% 3 of 8
Bennett Robert Utah Republican 25% 2 of 8
Nelson Ben Nebraska Democratic 25% 2 of 8

In 2009 there were 11 Bills passed by the Democratic Majority that did not have any Republican majority of votes or support. Since 2009 there have been 19 of 39 (49%) Bills signed into law by President H. Obama that did not have any Republican majority support, a record since 2005.

Senator Mitch McConnell Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Republican, Kentucky
Senator McConnell had 6 of his fellow Republican Senators voting with the Democratic leadership 30% of the time or greater last year. Two of those six Senators actually voted over 50% of the time with the Democratic leadership. Despite the lack of Republican partisan support and very little Democratic support Senator McConnell still managed to get 119 of 340 (35%) successful pieces of legislation thru the Democratic controlled Senate the last two years (2009-2010) but has not been able to get one Republican sponsored Bill passed thru the Democratic controlled Senate without the support of the Democratic majority of votes.

Senator McConnell voted 9 of 52 (17%) on cloture votes with the Democratic leadership in the Senate and is ranked number 22 in support of that leadership, but the winner and still champion of the Constitution is no doubt Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina who only voted 3 of 52 (6%) with the Democratic leadership on cloture and is ranked at the bottom with a 28 ranking. Above Senator DeMint at 27 was the only conservative women Senator of 2010, Republican Senator Kay Hutchison from Texas.  Being ranked at the bottom on the Cloture Rankings List is something I'm sure both Senators DeMint and Hutchison would be proud of.

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