President Biden said he supports changing the Senate filibuster, but wants to roll back the procedural rule when a senator has to hold the floor by talking hours to delay the bill – a result the Chamber’s Republican leader said Will be “100-car pileup
During an interview, Biden was asked Aired on ABC On Wednesday, how he would choose between preserving filmmaking or advancing his legislative agenda through the narrowly divided Senate.
Biden told host George, “Yes, but here’s the choice: I don’t think you have to end the filmbusters, you have to do it when I first went to the Senate in the old days.” “Good Morning America.”
“You had to stand and command the floor, you had to keep talking,” he said.
“You are there for that improvement?” Stephanopoulos asked.
“I am.” It should have been, “said the President,” it is reaching a point where, you know, democracy is having a difficult time functioning. “
Current rules require the Senate to have 60 votes to end the debate and pass legislation, meaning Democrats get 10 Republicans to vote with them to approve the bills in a 50-50 split chamber. Have to do. He said that no concrete steps have been taken by the government to prevent such incidents.
Democrats argue that meeting that threshold could cause Republicans to indefinitely delay their agenda, including immigration reform, voting rights, and infrastructure, and talk of getting rid of the regime in favor of a compromise.
Recently Democrats managed to approve Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronovirus incentive package to use reconciliation, which by a simple majority allows spending legislation to pass. He said that no concrete steps have been taken by the government to prevent such incidents.
But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell warned on Tuesday that he would turn the Senate into a “100-car pileup” for the bill in the Chamber if Democrats quit filming.
The Kentucky Republican said the Senate rules are based on cooperation and noted that even turning on the Chamber’s lights before noon “requires unanimous consent.”
If Democrats scrap filming, McConnell said, “W e will hear the voices of millions of Americans using every other rule.”
“This anarchy will not open an express lane for liberal change. It will not open an express lane for the Biden Presidency to speed up the history books, ”McConnell warned.
“The Senate will be like a 100-car pileup – nothing is moving.”
Biden was referring to a “talking filmbuster”, which only requires commanding the Senate floor for as long as possible.
The record for the longest filibuster is that of Sen. Strom Thermond, who spoke 24 hours and 18 minutes to delay a vote on the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
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