In this Nov. 21, 2013, photo Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., left, speaks to reporters after the Democratic majority voted to weaken filibusters and make it harder for Republicans to block confirmation of the president's nominees for judges and other top posts, on Capitol Hill in Washington. As Democrats watched Senate Republicans use filibuster powers to thwart more and more of President Barack Obama?s agenda and nominees, they asked themselves, How much worse can it get? Last week they reached a breaking point. GOP obstruction had made a mockery of democracy, party leaders concluded. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)