What's On Our Mind ...
The Filibuster, COVID relief, and Civil Rights
Yesterday President Biden delivered on his promise to help the American people with an historic Covid relief package. Among other things, the package will cut the rate of child poverty in half and provide $14 billion for vaccine distribution. He could not have done this without JAC-supported candidates in Congress.
But it almost did not happen because of the Senate’s filibuster rule, which requires 60 votes to pass a bill. This archaic rule is used to delay a vote on a bill and obstruct the passage of legislation.
The GOP has only one goal in mind: preventing President Biden’s legislative agenda. There is strong pressure to abolish the filibuster, but it would require the support of every member of the Senate Democratic caucus.
During JAC’s discussion this week with Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), he suggested another way to deal with the filibuster problem. He said once again Senators should be required to literally speak on the Senate floor until there is a vote to end debate and take a vote on the proposed bill.