If you didn’t already know it, the Democrats in Congress are trying their darndest to get rid of the age-old filibuster. This process allows the minority party to argue their points of opinion at length in an effort to delay or completely prevent a bill from being decided on. It takes a three-fifths (usually 60) vote to end the filibuster and pass any discussed measures. If done away with, any laws put to the vote would only require a simple majority vote, needing only 51 votes, rather than needing at least three-fifths or 60 votes to pass.
Now, to be clear, the Democratic party has been attempting to nix the filibuster for decades. And of course, it only seems to come up when they are in a place of power, as they are now. Quite naturally, the idea is that without the filibuster in place, it will be easier to get their agenda items pushed through without taking up much time or debate.
Currently, the measures the Democrats would love to put in place are related to voting laws and the processes that elect our state and national leaders.
First and foremost is the Freedom to Vote Act. According to Business Insider, the Freedom to Vote Act would do things like giving convicted felons the right to vote, as well as let universal mail-in ballots be used in all elections despite previous concerns about how much fraud that would allow.
The other measure being much discussed is the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would require states with a history of discrimination to ask for permission before changing their election laws or even being redistricted. This would essentially reverse the previous Supreme Court precedent.
Both measures have already passed through the House of Representatives.
However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi knows all too well that the filibuster in the Senate is likely to be a major stumbling block for the proposed laws, if not a hurdle that cannot be crossed. And so she is calling on each and every senator to make sure the filibuster is nixed for good.
