Nevada Sen. Cortez Masto on why the filibuster rule should change

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Nevada Sen. Cortez Masto on why the filibuster¹ rule should change

Transcript²

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada about the future of the filibuster and the legacy⁴ of former Majority Leader Harry⁵ Reid, who died last month.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

The late senator and Democratic leader, Harry Reid, who lies in state at the U.S. Capitol today, would have agreed that the Senate rules should change. He famously fought for and won a change in Senate rules to eliminate the filibuster for judicial⁶ appointments. Nevada Democrat³ Catherine Cortez Masto was mentored⁷ by Reid. She holds his Senate seat, and I asked her yesterday if she agrees that the filibuster should go.

CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO: I've been clear that we need to reform the filibuster, which is why I've called for a return to the talking filibuster. I think it is important that if a senator is going to oppose key legislation like voting rights or like any other important legislation that is needed in this country, that they should have to stand on the floor of the Senate and explain why they're opposing those efforts so that the American people know the position that a senator has taken. I think there should be a transparency around this, and it's not happening right now. Rachel, unfortunately, with respect to key important legislation, a senator can just oppose it from their office. And it doesn't move, doesn't go anywhere, and the American public has no idea why it's not moving.

MARTIN: Let me ask, would you support getting rid of the filibuster altogether, as an increasing number of your Democratic colleagues do?

CORTEZ MASTO: I've called for a talking filibuster because I think there is an opportunity to bring both sides together to restore the Senate to the time when we debate important issues.

MARTIN: Is that no?

CORTEZ MASTO: So from my perspective, I think it is important that - I've heard from my colleagues, and there's reasonable arguments on both sides. And so to me, the compromise here to get everybody behind this is a talking filibuster to restore that debate.

MARTIN: Do you think there are the votes in the Senate to eliminate the filibuster?

CORTEZ MASTO: We will find out.

MARTIN: I'd like to pivot⁸ now, if we could, because another senator from Nevada is lying in state today at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda⁹, someone you knew well, the late Harry Reid. He died last month at the age of 82. Is there a favorite personal memory you have of him that you wouldn't mind sharing?

CORTEZ MASTO: Senator Reid had this - and I say this - it's an uncanny ability to know when to call you at just the right time, when you needed that support or you just needed affirmation or to commiserate¹⁰ on an issue. And to this day, I still carry a recording¹¹ of him when he called me one of those times and I wasn't able to pick up the phone, but he left a message for me, telling me how proud he was of me, of something that I had done. And yes, he was a fighter. Yes, you know, he - as former President Obama said, he could be irascible and just, you know, make you mad at times. But he was just there for the right reasons, because of his background and where he came from, and he wanted other families and other people to have those opportunities of the American dream that he had. I mean, he's the epitome¹² of what people come to this country for, this - the American dream or what - you grow up, and you become a success from hard work and opportunity in this country.

MARTIN: Is the current Congress living up to the expectations that he had for its ability to do right by the American people?

CORTEZ MASTO: Well, one thing I knew about Senator Reid - he believed in the institutions. He believed in our democracy and our government. There is a role for Congress to play. And he was very effective in not only protecting that role, but getting things done. And there's no doubt in my mind right now, we have to remember that. We have to remember - not only as January 6 came and went, and so many of us not only lived through that day, but also watched it unfold on TV - that we are being tested right now, our democratic institutions, and we all have a role, particularly here in Congress and in Washington, to play in protecting that democracy and speaking the truth to what happened there and holding people accountable.

MARTIN: U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Democrat from Nevada, we so appreciate your time. Thank you.

CORTEZ MASTO: Thank you, Rachel.

1 filibuster   

n.妨碍议事，阻挠；v.阻挠

参考例句：

• A senator dragged the subject in as a filibuster.一个参议员硬把这个题目拉扯进来，作为一种阻碍议事的手法。
• The democrats organized a filibuster in the senate.民主党党员在参议院上组织了阻挠议事。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

4 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

5 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

6 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

7 mentored   

v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They had a fantastic dean who really mentored a lot of people. 那儿的教务长非常出色，的确为许多人提供了指导。 来自互联网
• The famous professor mentored him during his years in graduate school. 那位著名的教授在他读研究生期间指导他。 来自互联网

8 pivot   

v.在枢轴上转动；装枢轴，枢轴；adj.枢轴的

参考例句：

• She is the central pivot of creation and represents the feminine aspect in all things.她是创造的中心枢轴，表现出万物的女性面貌。
• If a spring is present,the hand wheel will pivot on the spring.如果有弹簧，手轮的枢轴会装在弹簧上。

9 rotunda   

n.圆形建筑物；圆厅

参考例句：

• The Capitol at Washington has a large rotunda.华盛顿的国会大厦有一圆形大厅。
• The rotunda was almost deserted today,dotted with just a few tourists.圆形大厅今天几乎没有多少人，只零星散布着几个游客。

10 commiserate   

v.怜悯，同情

参考例句：

• When I lost,he commiserated with me.我落败的时候，他向我表示同情。
• I commiserated with her on the loss of her job.她失去了工作，我很同情她。

11 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

12 epitome   

n.典型，梗概

参考例句：

• He is the epitome of goodness.他是善良的典范。
• This handbook is a neat epitome of everyday hygiene.这本手册概括了日常卫生的要点。