Article posted: 1/24/2013 6:52 PM

Top senators reach deal to curb filibusters

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Jimmy Stewart filibusters in a scene from the movie: "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." The Senate has more filibusters than ever these days. But you'd hardly know it by watching the chamber on C-SPAN. Filibusters are procedural delays now and seldom look like the exhausted talkathon waged by the devoted senator portrayed by Stewart in the film.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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The Senate's senior Democrat and Republican reached agreement Thursday to impose modest limits on the filibuster, the delaying tactics that minority parties have long used to kill legislation. The deal would reduce — but not eliminate — the number of times opponents can use filibusters.