Biden Reveals Why He's For Senate Filibuster Reform on GMA: 'Democracy is Having a Hard Time...

[DonViejo]

Biden Reveals Why He’s For Senate Filibuster Reform on GMA: ‘Democracy is Having a Hard Time Functioning’

By Ken MeyerMar 17th, 2021, 7:37 am

-snip-

In his interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Biden spoke about the opposition he faces from Senate Republicans on several areas of his agenda. As Stephanopoulos brought up the roadblocks for the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and other matters, he asked Biden if he would have to choose between preserving the filibuster or pursuing his goals.

“”Yes, but here’s the choice: I don’t think that you have to eliminate the filibuster, you have to do it what it used to be when I first got to the Senate back in the old days,” Biden said. “You had to stand up and command the floor, you had to keep talking…That’s what it was supposed to be.”

The president has expressed reluctance to changing the filibuster in the past, though he did say he was open to the possibility if there was no other way to get his agenda through Congress. As Biden further clarified he supports bringing back the talking filibuster, he decried how often the mechanism is used, saying “it’s getting to the point where, you know, democracy is having a hard time functioning.”

Biden went on by predicting Republicans will become more cooperative over time as the country embraces his presidential efforts down the line.

full article + video
https://www.mediaite.com/biden/biden-fillibuster-reform/

[Buns_of_Fire]

1. I've got no problem with this.

it satisfies Joe Manchin's concern that the minority party have a voice, and if Senator Cancun wants to use his voice to read the Kama Sutra aloud until he drops, that's fine with me, too.

[JackSabbath]

2. Yeah me too but

I believe that the oratory must stay relevant to the legislation that is being considered. If they stray off topic that should end it immediately.

[Hortensis]

4. I'd like that. Even more, I like the possible proposal that no fewer

than 41 members of the minority party must be present at all times during the filibuster. Any time it drops below that, the filibuster ends and a vote can be taken.

All of it a gift to CSPAN2 viewers. Heck, with the empty, echoing chamber come alive, so would viewership.

[Hortensis]

3. :) Schumer said on Maddow they're going to "test" McConnell's desire

to keep the filibuster unchanged with some legislation. He specifically mentioned among it a bill to require background checks for firearms, which 90% of the electorate support.

I'm thinking no matter what HR1/the For the People Act will be the test breaker.