Senate OKs modest restrictions on filibusters  Thursday -
1/24/2013, 10:49pm EST  Associated Press  WASHINGTON (AP) - The
tradition-laden Senate voted Thursday to modestly curb
filibusters, using a bipartisan consensus rare in today's hyper-
partisan climate to make it a bit harder but not impossible for
outnumbered senators to sink bills and nominations.  The rules
changes would reduce yet not eliminate the number of times
opponents _ usually minority-party Republicans these days _ can
use filibusters, procedural tactics which can derail legislation
and which can be stopped only by the votes of 60 of the 100
senators.  In return, the majority party _ Democrats today _
would have to allow two minority amendments on bills, a response
to Republican complaints that Democrats often prevent them from
offering any amendments at all. The new procedures also would
limit the time spent debating some bills and nominations,
allowing some to be completed in hours that could otherwise take
a day or more.  The changes were