(ConservativeHub.com) – The Democratic-led House of Representatives passed a sweeping election bill the first week of March and sent it along to the Senate for consideration, where it stalled for more than three months. Republicans blocked debate on the For the People Act of 2021 using the filibuster on June 22, indefinitely stalling the measure — perhaps for good.
Progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) criticized the filibuster rule later that evening, saying it gives a “minority [group] of senators” too much power. According to her, Democrats’ election bill should have passed once a “majority of legislators” voted for it.
Call me radical, but I do not believe a minority of Senators should be able to block voting rights for millions of people.
But I guess I’m just from that far-left school of thought that legislation should pass when a majority of legislators vote for it https://t.co/NTtk28BwRs
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 23, 2021
AOC appears to be overlooking the importance of the filibuster. Regarded by many to be “the world’s greatest deliberative body,” the US Senate has a rich history as a place for free debate and the protection of political minorities. The filibuster helps guarantee debate by requiring a 60-vote supermajority to end the discussion on a legislative measure.
Many Democrats supported the filibuster when Republicans held a majority in the Senate during former President Donald Trump’s first term in office.
Important matters require careful consideration. Doing away with the filibuster to force through their progressive agenda could eventually blow up on Democrats once Republicans retake control of the Senate and vice versa.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said as much in 2017 when he noted that eliminating the filibuster would result in the Senate falling victim to “the winds of short-term electoral change.”
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