“I was elected to serve the people, not an arcane Senate procedure. If the choice comes down to the filibuster or democracy, I know which side I'm on.
Washington, DC — Today, Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania tweeted support for reforming or ending the filibuster to pass critical voting rights. Representing a swing state that went to President Trump in 2016 and President Biden in 2020, Senator Casey outlined the choice between an “arcane Senate procedure” and “preserving American democracy,” making his position on the side of democracy and his constituents clear. He also articulated the high stakes for our democracy, noting that doing what’s necessary to pass voting rights is “about the soul of America.”
Senator Casey’s new position comes only days after Senator Dianne Feinstein (D–CA) signaled she’s open to abandoning the filibuster to pass the For The People Act. His comments also follow nearly 150 advocacy groups calling on Majority Leader Schumer to not allow the filibuster to block the historic voting rights bill.
Fix Our Senate Spokesman Eli Zupnick was quoted as saying:
"Senator Casey knows the filibuster cannot stand in the way of passing critical voting rights to ensure every person’s voice in our democracy is heard. As more and more Senators come out in support of reforming or ending the filibuster, Senator Casey highlighted the clear – and easy – choice between preserving the ‘Jim Crow’ filibuster or taking these critical steps toward restoring integrity in American elections and democracy.”
Here’s the full text of tweet thread:
The right to vote is under a kind of assault we haven’t seen since the Jim Crow era… and it’s going to get worse unless the Senate acts. This isn’t about Democrats vs. Republicans – it’s about the soul of America.
Our democracy is at stake here. I'm ready to work with my Republican colleagues, but should the 60-vote rule (filibuster) continue to be abused against widely popular policies, then we must eliminate – or at the very least reform – the filibuster.
The filibuster was not a part of the Founder’s original design. I was elected to serve the people, not an arcane Senate procedure. If the choice comes down to the filibuster or democracy, I know which side I'm on.