The Filibuster
The Senate, once hailed as the 'world's greatest deliberative body,' is a dysfunctional shadow of its original self.
The biggest source of that dysfunction? Mitch McConnell's use of the "no-effort" filibuster to paralyze the Senate.
This wreaks damage in two massive ways.
First, he deploys the no-effort filibuster to waste the Senate's time. A non-controversial nomination takes a week. And a broadly supported policy bill takes two weeks (one week to get the bill to the floor and another to get to a final vote).
Second, he deploys the no-effort filibuster to veto policy bills. Since 60 votes are required to close debate, the Senate can't close debate on a policy bill even if closing debate is favored 59-0.
In short, this gives the minority a 41-vote veto, flipping democracy on its head: the minority controls the outcome, not the majority. McConnell deploys this 41-vote veto to protect the interests of the powerful over the people.
The Senate was created as part of a balanced government meant to deliberate issues of importance, but McConnell's abuse of the no-effort filibuster paralyzes the Senate on one important issue after another.
Gun safety bills? Dead.
Voting rights? Dead.
Labor protections? Dead.
Dark money reforms? Dead.
Reproductive rights? Dead.
Immigration reform? Dead.
Here's what we need to do to reform the filibuster and fix the Senate: hold and expand the Democratic Senate Majority.
As we head closer and closer to November's elections, we need to push even harder around reforming the filibuster and double down on our efforts to save the Democratic Senate Majority.
As long as the no-effort filibuster stands in our way, we will never be able to make the much needed progress our country deserves.
But to reform the filibuster we need a Democratic Senate Majority in 2024.
Onward!
Jeff
