'Mr. Smith' filibuster change introduced in the Senate

Senate Democrats on Wednesday introduced legislation that would tighten rules on the use of the filibuster in the legislative chamber.

In a nod to the classic movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-New Jersey, reintroduced his "Mr. Smith Bill," which would require those who want to filibuster a nomination or a bill to appear on the floor and actually speak.

The filibuster -- a parliamentary procedure that allows a single senator to block a vote on a bill -- has been a long-standing tradition in the Senate but came under heavy criticism in the last Congress. Republican senators, who are in the minority, repeatedly use the tactic to stall Democrats' legislative items, such as the health care reform bill.