Will the Senate scrap the filibuster on January 5?
A group of Democrats are planning to reform the rules of debate on the first day of the next Congress. Could they succeed — and should they even be trying?
A large group of Democratic senators, led by Majority Leader Harry Reid, wants to reform the filibuster process on January 5, the first day of the new Congress — when, according to precedent, the incoming Senate majority can alter the rules by a simple majority vote without fear of the process itself being filibustered. Although Reid's exact plans are unknown, the changes would reportedly require legislators to be speaking on the Senate floor in order to block a proposed bill (see Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington). Will this work, and is it constitutional for Democrats to even be trying?
Now is the time to reform the filibuster: "This is the perfect time for reform," says Michael Waldman at Bloomberg. The filibuster was originally drafted as a genteel check on the balance of power, but has become a tool to "cripple the executive branch." Thanks to Republican filibustering, 150 judicial nominees are in "Kafkaesque limbo," and Congress has been at a "halt" for much of the past year. Requiring 60 votes for anything to get done "isn’t what America’s founders had in mind."
"Washington dysfunction's cure is in sight."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Dems are just rigging the system in their favor: This is "nothing more than a naked power grab by the left," says Brian Darling at Red State, to "establish complete control over the agenda" of the Senate. What's more, the means of doing it — using a "simple majority vote" on the first day of Congress — are entirely unconstitutional. Liberals are twisting "Supreme Court precedent, the Constitution and the explicit rules of the Senate" to get their own way.
"How liberals plan to destroy the Senate with 51 votes"
Democrats will need the filibuster, too: Leaving aside the "sheer hypocrisy" of these suggestions for reform, says Jennifer Rubin at The Washington Post, might the Democrats not need the filibuster themselves during the next Congress? After all, the Republican minority will only need a handful of "moderate Democratic senators" to bolster its 47-member caucus and force its own agenda through. Reid et al. would be "well advised to do some serious thinking about the unintended consequences of their desire to give the Senate majority more power."
"Won't liberals need the filibuster?"
Both parties should support this: It wasn't that long ago Republicans sought to reform the filibuster, says an editorial in the Los Angeles Times, and they should be in support of eliminating the current "anti-democratic" practice. "Abuses of the filibuster" have contributed to Congress' approval rating dropping to a historic low. "The chamber has a chance to save itself from itself on Jan. 5, and it should take it."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Passenger: 'pleasingly off-kilter' ITV crime drama
The Week Recommends There's 'plenty to be feared' in this British murder mystery set in a quiet northern town
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: March 27, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: March 27, 2024
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Xi-Biden meeting: what's in it for both leaders?
Today's Big Question Two superpowers seek to stabilise relations amid global turmoil but core issues of security, trade and Taiwan remain
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Will North Korea take advantage of Israel-Hamas conflict?
Today's Big Question Pyongyang's ties with Russia are 'growing and dangerous' amid reports it sent weapons to Gaza
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published