Since Biden is not really running the show, Dems are running wild trying to pass policies they normally could only dream about. You can tell with the recent relief bill that Dems are giving special interest groups whatever they want. Sen Kennedy called it spending porn. But I guess Dems feel the GOP is pushing back too much now, so they want to streamline the process in getting their bills past and get rid of the filibuster in the Senate. Filibusters are an important part of the Senate and the GOP is refusing to accept this. Sen. McConnell claims that if Dems do this, the GOP will do everything in their power to bring the Senate to a halt until it is reinstated.
“None of us have served one minute in a Senate that was completely drained of comity and consent. This is an institution that requires unanimous consent to turn the lights on before noon, to proceed with a garden-variety floor speech.”
McConnell continued: “I want our colleagues to imagine a world where every single task, every one of them, requires a physical quorum. Which, by the way, the vice president does not count in determining a quorum. This chaos would not open up an express lane for liberal change … The Senate would be more like a 100-car pileup, nothing moving.”
But this doesn’t look like a real concern at this point since Dem Senator Manchin claims he is not going to vote to reform or remove the filibuster, which puts a damper on Dem’s plans.
“Manchin rejects calls for lowering 60-vote threshold. Also rejects calls for requiring 41 sens to sustain filibuster. Also rejects calls for specific carveouts on legislation, like on voting I asked him if he’s drawing a line at 60 “I’m still at 60 .. I haven’t changed.”
We are supposed to have checks and balances that stop one party from practically reforming the country singlehandedly to their ideal. But with Dems being in charge of the House, Senate, and White House we really need a red wave come midterm elections.
dan