WASHINGTON (AP) — In the wake of a frustrating government shutdown and in response to Democratic refusal to accept a Republican funding bill, President Donald Trump is once again calling for the Senate to eliminate the legislative filibuster.
The filibuster is a long-standing parliamentary procedure that prevents most bills from progressing unless 60 members of the 100-member Senate vote in favor of moving forward. This tool has historically hindered policy objectives for both Democrats and Republicans, with Trump expressing dissatisfaction since his first term in office.
Trump argued that abolishing the filibuster would enable Republicans to overcome the now month-long shutdown, stating, It is now time for the Republicans to play their ‘TRUMP CARD,’ and go for what is called the Nuclear Option — Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW! on his social media site Thursday night.
However, majority Republicans have resisted eliminating the legislative filibuster, fearing it would weaken their influence should they find themselves in the minority again. The filibuster, in its intended form, fosters compromise and negotiation.
### Understanding the Filibuster
The filibuster allows senators to speak at length to delay or block votes. While the tactic entered Senate records in the mid-19th century, it was inadvertently established in 1805 by Vice President Aaron Burr’s complaints about the chamber's cumbersome rules. Today's version diverges significantly from the public's perception, which often conjures images of lengthy speeches, like those depicted in the film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Currently, senators may notify their party leaders of their intent to filibuster without extensive speeches, yet overcoming this requires 60 votes. Once the threshold is surpassed, final passage only necessitates a simple majority.
### The Question of Elimination
The filibuster for nominations was eliminated in 2013 by Senate Democrats under Majority Leader Harry Reid in response to repeated Republican filibustering of President Obama’s appointees. Republicans reciprocated in 2017 by discarding the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations when they confirmed Neil Gorsuch.
Trump cited that scrapping the filibuster would allow Republicans to secure the best Judges and the best U.S. Attorneys, although it's important to note they only need a simple majority for those appointments.
In 2022, Democrats nearly discarded the legislative filibuster for voting rights legislation, but faced pushback from Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, who worried these changes would backfire should they lose control.
### Shutdown and Filibuster Dynamics
Due to the necessity of achieving a 60-vote threshold, Republican senators must seek assistance from Democrats to pass any funding bills, with the GOP holding only 53 votes. In exchange for their support on a stopgap funding measure, many Democrats demand an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, which Republicans deem unaffordable and irrelevant for a temporary solution.
As frustrations mount with the prolonged government closure, some Republicans are considering the filibuster's abolition to nullify Democratic leverage. Senator Bernie Moreno suggested on Fox News, Maybe it’s time to think about the filibuster... We’ve got 52 Republicans. Let’s go, and let’s open the government. It may get to that.
Despite the pressure, many Republican senators, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, maintain a commitment to the filibuster, arguing it safeguards the Senate's integrity and encourages consensus. Thune’s spokesman reiterated his stance after Trump’s social media remarks.
The idea of pageantry in the Senate is further complicated by House Republicans’ lack of authority over Senate directives, despite their occasional input on strategic matters. Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged he had discussed the issue with Trump but declined to take a definitive stance.
The filibuster is a long-standing parliamentary procedure that prevents most bills from progressing unless 60 members of the 100-member Senate vote in favor of moving forward. This tool has historically hindered policy objectives for both Democrats and Republicans, with Trump expressing dissatisfaction since his first term in office.
Trump argued that abolishing the filibuster would enable Republicans to overcome the now month-long shutdown, stating, It is now time for the Republicans to play their ‘TRUMP CARD,’ and go for what is called the Nuclear Option — Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW! on his social media site Thursday night.
However, majority Republicans have resisted eliminating the legislative filibuster, fearing it would weaken their influence should they find themselves in the minority again. The filibuster, in its intended form, fosters compromise and negotiation.
### Understanding the Filibuster
The filibuster allows senators to speak at length to delay or block votes. While the tactic entered Senate records in the mid-19th century, it was inadvertently established in 1805 by Vice President Aaron Burr’s complaints about the chamber's cumbersome rules. Today's version diverges significantly from the public's perception, which often conjures images of lengthy speeches, like those depicted in the film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Currently, senators may notify their party leaders of their intent to filibuster without extensive speeches, yet overcoming this requires 60 votes. Once the threshold is surpassed, final passage only necessitates a simple majority.
### The Question of Elimination
The filibuster for nominations was eliminated in 2013 by Senate Democrats under Majority Leader Harry Reid in response to repeated Republican filibustering of President Obama’s appointees. Republicans reciprocated in 2017 by discarding the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations when they confirmed Neil Gorsuch.
Trump cited that scrapping the filibuster would allow Republicans to secure the best Judges and the best U.S. Attorneys, although it's important to note they only need a simple majority for those appointments.
In 2022, Democrats nearly discarded the legislative filibuster for voting rights legislation, but faced pushback from Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, who worried these changes would backfire should they lose control.
### Shutdown and Filibuster Dynamics
Due to the necessity of achieving a 60-vote threshold, Republican senators must seek assistance from Democrats to pass any funding bills, with the GOP holding only 53 votes. In exchange for their support on a stopgap funding measure, many Democrats demand an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, which Republicans deem unaffordable and irrelevant for a temporary solution.
As frustrations mount with the prolonged government closure, some Republicans are considering the filibuster's abolition to nullify Democratic leverage. Senator Bernie Moreno suggested on Fox News, Maybe it’s time to think about the filibuster... We’ve got 52 Republicans. Let’s go, and let’s open the government. It may get to that.
Despite the pressure, many Republican senators, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, maintain a commitment to the filibuster, arguing it safeguards the Senate's integrity and encourages consensus. Thune’s spokesman reiterated his stance after Trump’s social media remarks.
The idea of pageantry in the Senate is further complicated by House Republicans’ lack of authority over Senate directives, despite their occasional input on strategic matters. Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged he had discussed the issue with Trump but declined to take a definitive stance.
