Force senators out from the shadows:
Pass the Secret Holds Elimination Act now

Senators with something to hide are using “secret holds” at an unprecedented rate to sabotage legislation and nominations that they don’t want to see the light of day.

Senators Wyden, Grassley, and McCaskill’s bill would take the “secret” out of the secret holds process by forcing senators to identify themselves when they want to stop progress, and could be up for a vote soon. We have to act now.

Help us make sure this bill passes: Add your name to our petition now!

Claire McCaskill
U.S. Senator

Dick Durbin
U.S. Senator

Sheldon Whitehouse
U.S. Senator

How are secret holds a threat to Senate progress?

Secret holds cost us a searchable database of government contacts and grants — a tool that would have given spending transparency, and would have put the spotlight on lobbyist windfalls.1

Secret holds delayed over 120 presidential nominees since President Obama took office.2

Secret holds allowed a sole senator, Richard Shelby of Alabama, to hold 70 nominations hostage earlier this year.3

Secret holds prevented the deciding vote on the Tennessee Valley Authority needed to pass a plan to replace antiquated coal plants.4

Secret holds blocked the confirmation process for the Secretary of Labor from beginning for over a month.5

Secret holds prevented one of the Federal Reserve’s board members from taking his seat — right when we need all hands on deck on our economic issues.6

1Houston Chronicle, 8/23/06; 2NPR News, 6/3/10; 3Washington Post, 2/6/10; 4Chattanooga Times Free Press, 6/6/10; 5Los Angeles Times, 1/24/09; 6Bloomberg Businessweek, 8/6/10

Victory!

On January 27, the U.S. Senate voted to ban secret holds.

Thank you for your help bringing more transparency and openness to our government!

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76-100 of 20926 signatures
Number Date Name
20851 Tue Jan 25 15:04:29 EST 2011 Connie Coleman
20850 Tue Jan 25 14:21:30 EST 2011 Anonymous
20849 Tue Jan 25 14:19:44 EST 2011 Ernest Fine
20848 Tue Jan 25 13:54:42 EST 2011 Tracy Floeh
20847 Tue Jan 25 13:43:16 EST 2011 mark ruzicka
20846 Tue Jan 25 13:42:15 EST 2011 Barbara Cruse
20845 Tue Jan 25 13:26:02 EST 2011 DOUGLAS GILMOUR
20844 Tue Jan 25 13:15:23 EST 2011 Gloria kIFER
20843 Tue Jan 25 13:13:14 EST 2011 Gloria kIFER
20842 Tue Jan 25 13:12:48 EST 2011 Jay MowBray
20841 Tue Jan 25 13:11:56 EST 2011 Gretchen Maune
20840 Tue Jan 25 12:55:00 EST 2011 Robb Horstmeier
20839 Tue Jan 25 12:14:00 EST 2011 Anonymous
20838 Tue Jan 25 12:02:59 EST 2011 Anonymous
20837 Tue Jan 25 11:00:31 EST 2011 AJ Lenox-Krug
20836 Tue Jan 25 10:50:20 EST 2011 Kristin Bridges-Varner
20835 Tue Jan 25 10:39:31 EST 2011 Bob Milford
20834 Tue Jan 25 10:23:12 EST 2011 mary moton
20833 Tue Jan 25 10:09:13 EST 2011 Linda Flake
20832 Tue Jan 25 10:01:59 EST 2011 Darlene Felling
20831 Tue Jan 25 10:00:52 EST 2011 Beachem Sue
20830 Tue Jan 25 10:00:39 EST 2011 Darlene Felling
20829 Tue Jan 25 10:00:12 EST 2011 Darlene Felling
20828 Tue Jan 25 09:59:28 EST 2011 Eslun Tucker
20827 Tue Jan 25 09:58:51 EST 2011 Darlene Felling
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