"WASHINGTON — Senator Harry Reid of Nevada took a defiant and uncompromising stand on Monday before a showdown on the future of the filibuster, saying that Republicans must stop blocking executive branch nominations or he will try to change rules to 'save the Senate from becoming obsolete.'"

"But senators emerged from a three-and a-half-hour meeting in the Old Senate Chamber saying they were confident that an agreement could be reached Tuesday to defuse the tense partisan standoff, though no deal had been struck in the closed session that went well into the night.

Democratic and Republican leaders promised to continue negotiating, but Mr. Reid, the majority leader, said the first test vote was still scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, Democrat of West Virginia, said, 'There’s no deal, but there’s a much better understanding.'"

Jonathan Weisman and Ashley Parker report for the New York Times July 15, 2013. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Reid Slams GOP for Forcing Lautenberg To Cast 'Deathbed' Vote For McCarthy " (Greenwire) [3]

"Filibuster Fight: Senators Scrapping Over Nominees" (AP) [4]

"Reid Warns of Using Senate 'Nuclear Option' on Filibusters" (Reuters) [5]

"Nominations Battle Reaches Climax, But Caucus Meeting Undercard Tonight Could Be Key" (E&E Daily)
www.eenews.net/eedaily/stories/1059984366 [6]

"Filibuster Reform: Senate Edges Closer To 'Nuclear Option'" (Huffington Post) [7]