Eli Zupnick of Fix Our Senate: “Democrats’ huge step forward in coalescing around strong voting rights and democracy-protecting legislation will be meaningless if they don’t address the filibuster that stands in the way.”
WASHINGTON, DC — After yesterday’s news that Senate Democrats have united behind compromise legislation to protect voting rights and ban partisan gerrymandering, Senate Republicans quickly made clear that they are equally united in opposition.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), both of whom have been mentioned as potential supporters of voting rights legislation, voiced their strong opposition. It’s the latest reminder that despite Sen. Manchin and others’ good faith efforts to reach out to Republicans on what shouldn’t be a partisan issue, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is intent to live up to his pledge that defeating federal voting rights legislation is his “top priority.”
The following is a statement from Eli Zupnick, spokesman for Fix Our Senate:
“Yesterday brought fresh reminders of what’s long been apparent: the only way strong voting rights and democracy legislation gets enacted is by Senate Democrats finally addressing the filibuster and eliminating it as a weapon for Senator Mitch McConnell to keep our democracy rigged.
Senator Joe Manchin is working in good faith to bring his Republican colleagues on board for what should be a bipartisan effort in a more functional Senate. But unfortunately, it’s already clear that Senate Republicans under Senator McConnell will not get to yes. Democrats’ huge step forward in coalescing around strong voting rights and democracy-protecting legislation will be meaningless if they don’t address the filibuster that stands in the way.
President Biden and the White House are preparing a ‘lobbying blitz’ on filibuster reform to get voting rights legislation done. Now is the time to follow through on that promise and for Senate Democrats to choose voting rights and our democracy over an outdated and abused Senate rule.”