General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTweet of the late night:
Link to tweet
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First, the sentiment in the Democratic caucus seems to be swinging decidedly in the direction of filibuster reform. According to The Washington Post, 19 of the 50 Democratic senators are committed to eliminating the filibuster, 15 are committed to changes and 14 are open to them, with only Sebs. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) more reserved so far. Even President Biden, formerly a long-serving senator and a champion of its traditions who had long been viewed as an obstacle, has reportedly come around.
Second, Manchin is not as immovable an obstacle as he appears. In March, Manchin suggested that he would be open to using the reconciliation process to pass voting rights legislation if all efforts at bipartisanship failed. Our report explains how that intricate maneuver could work and, as importantly, Manchins statement shows he is contemplating voting rights legislation by a simple majority. He has since expressed openness to other reforms of the kind we also outline in our paper, such as lowering the cloture threshold and shifting the onus onto the Senate minority to maintain the filibuster. When asked about lowering the vote total needed for cloture, he said: Im open to looking at it. Im just not open to getting rid of the filibuster, thats all.
Manchin has also offered a compromise proposal in response to H.R. 1 and has reportedly spent considerable time negotiating details. A deal is said to be near, and he is actively seeking GOP support. It seems improbable that he would be spending all that time on the legislation if he were not at least willing to consider reforming the filibuster to push his plan into law. According to reports, he is getting what he wants. When that happens, he is a compromiser, as he has proved over and over again throughout his long career.
Third, if Manchin agrees to reform, Sinema seems less likely to stand truly alone against her caucus and a bill she has already said she supports. Though Sinema has indicated opposition to ending and eliminating the filibuster, a closer look at her words makes clear that she might not oppose all modifications. That is why she has called for an open debate and has been careful not to say she opposes any reform. In an op-ed for The Washington Post, Sinema called for the Senate to debate the legislative filibuster, so senators and our constituents can hear and fully consider the concerns and consequences.
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LonePirate
(13,386 posts)applegrove
(118,022 posts)and Biden have a plan.
ShazzieB
(15,958 posts)They know exactly what they're doing, and I really wish people would give them a chance instead of prophesy disaster all the time.
There must be something satisfying about spreading gloom and doom that I just don't see. Biden, Pelosi, and Schumer are highly experienced in all the nuance of government and perfectly capable of pulling off a win.
ZonkerHarris
(24,156 posts)questionseverything
(9,631 posts)We have the power, we just need to use it
ShazzieB
(15,958 posts)Moebym
(989 posts)I have come to the conclusion that some are actually hoping to see us fail just to prove their point.
brush
(53,475 posts)to Dem senators to twist arms to get on board with at least a carve out of the filibuster for voting right. That will of course mean to Manchin and I hope President Biden mentions that he needs Manchin's vote as he doesn't want to call for an investigation of his daughter's role in jacking up the price of the epi pen, which could result in her going to jail.
Time to play hardball.
You have the right idea