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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Tuesday backed reforming, rather than scrapping, the filibuster after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell warned Democrats that ending the long-standing Senate procedure that can block partisan legislation would bring the Democratic president’s agenda to a standstill.
Top Democrats, including the two highest-ranking party members in the Senate, have stepped up rhetoric in recent days about the future of the filibuster, which requires support from 60 of the chamber’s 100 members to pass most legislation effectively giving power to the minority party in a closely-divided chamber.
The parliamentary custom has long been seen as a mechanism requiring bipartisan consensus that distinguishes the Senate from the House of Representatives, where only a simple majority is needed to pass legislation. But with the Senate riven by a rancorous partisan divide, consensus has become an increasingly elusive goal.
McConnell said the partisan gridlock of the Trump and Obama eras would look like “child s play” compared to what s to come.
The GOP leader s stark remarks landed as the Biden administration is taking a victory lap over the just-passed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, the big COVID-19 relief package that was approved by Congress without a single Republican vote. Republicans acknowledged privately they are struggling to pry attention away from the bill, which appears to be popular among Americans benefitting from $1,400 cash payments, vaccine distribution and other aid, as the GOP focuses on future battles.
With the Senate evenly divided, 50-50, the rest of Biden s priorities face a tougher climb in Congress. While the Democratic-controlled House is able to swiftly approve a long list of potentially popular bills to expand voting rights, extend gun purchase background checks and other measures the rules of the Senate are more cumbersome. It typically requires 60 votes
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell warned ominously of a “scorched earth” landscape if Democrats use their new majority to bring an end to the Senate.
McConnell said the partisan gridlock of the Trump and Obama eras would look like “child s play” compared to what s to come.
The GOP leader s stark remarks landed as the Biden administration is taking a victory lap over the just-passed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, the big COVID-19 relief package that was approved by Congress without a single Republican vote. Republicans acknowledged privately they are struggling to pry attention away from the bill, which appears to be popular among Americans benefitting from $1,400 cash payments, vaccine distribution and other aid, as the GOP focuses on future battles.
With the Senate evenly divided, 50-50, the rest of Biden s priorities face a tougher climb in Congress. While the Democratic-controlled House is able to swiftly approve a long list of potentially popular bills to expand voting rights, extend gun purchase background checks and other measures the rules of the Senate are more cumbersome. It typically requires 60 votes
16 Mar 2021
President Joe Biden is open to ideas about getting rid of the Senate filibuster, the White House said Tuesday.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that although Biden’s “preference” was “not to make changes” to the filibuster, “he is also open to hearing ideas.”
Psaki spoke to reporters about the filibuster during the president’s trip to Pennsylvania to promote his massive $1.9 trillion coronavirus spending bill.
She pointed out that Biden did not have the power to stop Democrats from changing the Senate rules.
“This is, of course, a Senate rule,” she said. “It’s not a law that he would change or sign into law. It’s a Senate rule.”