Senate Democrats leery of nixing filibuster
By Jordain Carney - 01/16/21 02:49 PM EST
Senate Democrats appear unlikely to nuke the legislative filibuster, despite intense pressure from the left in the wake of this month's two victories in Georgia.
Starting Wednesday, Democrats will control a unified government for the first time since 2010. But the slim 50-50 margin in the Senate is threatening to box in progressive hopes of going big with sweeping policies unless they can convince senators to nix the 60-vote hurdle that would require GOP support for most legislation.
Supporters of going “nuclear†would need the support of every member of the Senate Democratic caucus to get rid of the filibuster, but several aren’t on board.
“I just think that it's an opportunity to bring people together and you can talk to anybody in this place, bipartisan legislation tends to stand the test of time, and so hopefully we continue to work together and have it be encouraged by the filibuster,†said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), adding that a 50-50 Senate will “require people working together to get things done."
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), while not completely closing the door, said the Senate should go through other options — including passing legislation through reconciliation, a budget gimmick that allows bills to bypass the 60-vote procedural requirement — before putting filibuster reform on the table.
“I don’t think the first, second or third thing we do is have some debate about rules changes because the president-elect was clear throughout his campaign he will try to work across the aisle and to bring the country together. And I expect that we will do that first and then see,†said Coons, a close ally of Biden.
Supporters of nixing the filibuster see their biggest hurdle as Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who has vowed that he will not vote to do so. Because Democrats will only hold 50 seats, opposition from Manchin alone can squash efforts to get rid of the Senate rule.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/534527-senate-democrats-leery-of-nixing-filibuster
