re: 50 vs 60 votes
I think it has to do with how it’s handled when it comes back from conference. If they allow debate then a senator can grab the floor and not let go, in which case they would need 60 votes to invoke cloture.
A lot of the problems we face with Congress today has to with the rules of the two houses. When the Democrats were in charge all those years they made a ton of rules that serve no purpose other than to thwart Republicans and the Right. Newt and them tried to change some of those, but as soon as control changed back to Democrats the new rules were dumped and it was back to business as usual.
I wonder if we could get Dick Cheney to take Specter duck hunting.
There's no need to "grab the floor." All a senator need to to block progress is object to a unanimous consent request to conclude debate and vote on the amendment, the bill, the motion, or whatever it is that isn't otherwise subjected to a time limit for consideration.