Washington, D.C. — NBC News recently reported that a coalition of 60+ progressive groups led by Fix Our Senate sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calling on him and Senate Democrats to quickly eliminate the filibuster and implement the agenda they promised to voters. After Sen. Schumer stood strong against Sen. McConnell’s attempts to preserve the filibuster, the groups are keeping up the pressure to finally eliminate the partisan obstructionist tool and prevent McConnell from blocking popular legislation on critically-needed policies like voting rights, gun safety, immigration reform, democracy reform, and more.
Below are a few excerpts from the piece:
“In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Friday, 62 progressive groups called for him to abolish the filibuster to give Democratic priorities a chance in Congress. It's the latest signal that the filibuster issue isn't fading despite some vocal holdouts in the caucus.”
“Signatories include March For Our Lives, MoveOn Civic Action, Communications Workers of America, Voto Latino, Greenpeace, Demos, Demand Justice, Indivisible and Our Revolution. The groups represent causes ranging from gun control, climate action, a minimum wage hike, liberalizing immigration and others that are likely to be hindered by the 60-vote rule in a split Senate.”
“...activists are expecting Schumer to persuade holdouts like Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., to help turn the chamber into a majority-rule body.”
“‘We know some Democrats are still reluctant to eliminate the filibuster, but we're going to keep making the case that the promises Democrats made to deliver results must be prioritized over an outdated and abused Senate rule that is no longer working and can easily be changed,’ Zupnick said.”