President Donald Trump has been urging the Senate to end the legislative filibuster. He hopes this triple play reopens the door to productive negotiations and brings an end to the 31-day-old government shutdown. This part of the call illustrates the deep partisan gulf that separates Republicans and Democrats. The current shutdown is already the longest in U.S. history.
The filibuster, a Senate rule, requires 60 votes to move past objections on legislation. This rule gives the minority party, currently the Democrats, the ability to flex their muscles and significantly disrupt Republican efforts. For several years, the legislative filibuster has been a controversial issue, leading many to question its value and effect on legislative policymaking.
In light of this reality, Trump’s demand for action became public on Halloween Day. He stated, “THE CHOICE IS CLEAR – INITIATE THE ‘NUCLEAR OPTION,’ GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER.” This candid statement is just an expression of his disappointment over the stalemate in talks. Republican leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have long been adamantly against changing or getting rid of the filibuster. McConnell’s agreement about the importance of this rare legislative tool hasn’t softened McConnell’s willingness to deploy it though.
Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming was emphatic in his opposition to altering the filibuster. His stand gives great weight to the party’s cohesive opposition to Trump’s brazen proposal. To his credit, Senator John Thune of South Dakota was clear and unequivocal about his opposition to the filibuster. He stressed that despite the urgency and demand for change, the fractured Senate does not have enough votes to change it.
The current impasse is due to the two sides’ disagreement over whether to extend subsidized healthcare. While Republicans assert they will not engage in negotiations until the government is reopened, Democrats maintain that they will not vote to do so without a commitment from Republicans on healthcare issues.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican from Alaska, expressed her concerns about the shutdown’s impact on her constituents. She called attention to the fact that food infrastructure is disappearing at an alarming rate in her state. This brings home the very real implications of the legislative impasse and furthers the call for swift resolution of that impasse.
Most Democrats have long wanted to do away with the filibuster. They began to view it as an obstacle to pursuing their agenda when they enjoyed complete control of Washington, DC. The game has changed with Republicans now in charge of merry ol’ Senate.
Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah emphasized the importance of the filibuster in fostering bipartisan cooperation, stating, “The filibuster forces us to find common ground in the Senate.” He added a principled defense of the rule: “Power changes hands, but principles shouldn’t. I’m a firm no on eliminating it.”
As negotiations lapse, each side is stalemated. The Republicans continue their solidarity, agreeing to no deal until the government is re-opened. On the other side, the Democrats are united in a laser focus on healthcare subsidies. This gridlock underscores the complexities of governance in a divided Senate and raises questions about how lawmakers will navigate these challenges in the coming days.
