Contrary To Popular Belief, The Filibuster Rule Discourages Debate
The Filibuster has nothing to do with protecting the minority.
There is a very strange, outsized, and disproportionate dynamic in the United States Senate. Just one senator can declare that a bill requires 60 votes to pass. All he has to do is pass a note to the president pro tempore that he intends to filibuster a bill. He doesn’t even have to talk. He might as well be in the restroom, and he can still stop a bill, with just one text. I think we can call that “legislative constipation”.
In the Senate, there are some who are in favor of the filibuster, and some who are not, a slight majority are in favor of the filibuster. On Thursday, I heard about how Republicans made loud, rancorous applause for the votes against a proposed change to the filibuster. I saw how they lined up to congratulate Kyrsten Sinema on her vote against proposed changes to the filibuster. But I also saw something else.
I saw a very clear, unambiguous desire to protect senators from “tough” votes. Both sides do it. Both sides want to be able to oppose legislation without actually explaining why they oppose a bill. They’re not willing to get up behind the lectern and explain why a bill should not pass. It is a wonder how these people who made hundreds of speeches to get…
