Capitol riot

Capitol riot commission vote is perfect example of why the 'filibuster must go,' critics say

May 28, 2021

.polaris__post-meta--date { display: none; } .polaris__post-meta--date.no-script { display: block; padding-left: 45px } May 28, 2021

A bill to establish an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection failed 54-35 in the Senate on Friday, with just six Republicans voting in its favor: Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). Democrats were six votes shy of the 60 needed to bypass a GOP-led filibuster, leading many to sharply criticize the filibuster and its role in the democratic process.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The vote right now is 54-35, which is a losing vote in the U.S. Senate. <br><br>A "No" vote is irrelevant to the outcome.<br><br>In the U.S. Senate, 59-1 would lose because of the filibuster rule.<br><br>You must get 60.</p>— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevenTDennis/status/1398308456063512581?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There were 54 votes in favor of enacting the January 6 Commission, and 35 opposed, but because our rules are completely bananas that means that the 35 WON THE VOTE. The filibuster must go.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) May 28, 2021

Voting rights reporter Stephen Wolf noted that the 54 senators in favor of the commission represent over 60 percent of the country.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">These 54 senators represent just over 60% of America's population, but because of malapportionment, they don't hold the 60% supermajority of votes needed to overcome the GOP's filibuster.<br><br>(Also, this isn't the "first" filibuster; the GOP has done it behind the scenes from Day 1) <a href="https://t.co/kVQysJyIDd">https://t.co/kVQysJyIDd</a></p>— Stephen Wolf (@PoliticsWolf) <a href="https://twitter.com/PoliticsWolf/status/1398313693461446660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) joined Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) in arguing that ending the filibuster is necessary to "protect our democracy." Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) echoed that.

Let’s be clear about what just happened: the GOP Senate minority used a filibuster to obstruct an independent investigation into a deadly armed attack on the Capitol. If we want to protect our democracy, we must #EndTheFilibuster.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 28, 2021

It's the filibuster or democracy https://t.co/UT8796nKnF
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 28, 2021

Going forward, Friday's vote could now place "further pressure" on lawmakers to reform and weaken the filibuster, "despite Sen. Joe Manchin's (D-W.Va.) repeated affirmation that he supports a 60-vote threshold to pass most legislation," Politico writes.