In an exercise in futility, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) tried to ram through a carve-out of the filibuster on Wednesday in order to pass through the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Acts.
For several months two of Schumer’s constituents, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) have publicly announced they will not support removing or modifying the filibuster rule.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sought in vain on Wednesday to get a carve-out of the filibuster in order to get the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Acts passed.
Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), two of Schumer’s constituents, have publicly stated that they will not support repealing or changing the filibuster rule.
Let me be clear: I will not vote to pack the courts & I will not vote to end the filibuster. The U.S. Senate is the most deliberative body in the world. It was made so that we work together in a bipartisan way. If you get rid of the filibuster, there's no reason to have a Senate. pic.twitter.com/g0fasdzVmt
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) November 10, 2020
BREAKING: "There's no need for me to restate my longstanding support for the 60-vote threshold to pass legislation," Sen. Kyrsten Sinema says one day after Pres. Biden announced support for changing filibuster rule to pass voting rights bills. "It is the view I continue to hold." pic.twitter.com/h6TAnrJT14
— ABC News (@ABC) January 13, 2022
The United States, as expected, came out on top. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NYlate-night )’s gambit to repeal the filibuster and pass two “voter bills” was defeated.
The Senate voted 48-52 to reject Schumer’s attempt to overrule the legislative filibuster. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), both moderate Democrats who oppose the legislation, voted against Schumer’s move.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stated the day was likely the most significant in the Senate’s history as an institution.
The removal of the filibuster, according to McConnell and Republicans, would jeopardize the Senate’s position as a deliberative body.
The filibuster idea, according to McConnell, is all smoke and mirrors.
Senators Manchin and Sinema both represent conservative-leaning states, so voting to preserve the 100-year-old filibuster rule that requires large majorities when crucial bills are up for debate is what their supporters would have wanted.
