Sen. Angus King
Angus KingAre Democrats really serious about passing a DREAM law in 2021? Biden under increasing pressure to name cyber czar. Officials urge Biden to appoint cyber leaders after SolarWinds, Microsoft hack MORE (I-Maine) signaled on Wednesday that it would support changing Senate rules if Republicans block voting rights legislation.
King, who has long been seen as cautious about changing the obstruction, set out his thinking in an opinion piece in the Washington Post, saying he saw voting rights as a “special case”.
“Total opposition to reasonable protections for voting rights cannot be activated by the obstructionist; if forced to choose between a Senate rule and democracy itself, I know where I will fall,” wrote King.
Opponents of obstruction have long viewed voting rights, radical democracy and electoral reforms as fertile ground for influencing Democratic senators, fearful of changing the rules.
The House passed an election and ethics reform bill earlier this month, and the Senate majority leader Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerTrump’s allies line up before the potentially blunt primaries. Where, Puerto Rico? Democrats make low-tax states an offer they should refuse MORE (DN.Y.) promised to vote in the upper house. Without changes to the obstruction, the bill would need 60 votes – something that could not be achieved without any Republicans supporting the legislation at the moment.
Some supporters of the reform suggested making an exemption for obstructing civil rights or electoral legislation, as states across the country pass bills that would limit access to the ballot box. Without action in Congress, the progressives warn, the changes would also effectively limit the Democrats’ ability to win elections.
Democrats currently have no vote to reject the obstruction, which would require the support of all 50 members of their seats. Sens. Joe Manchin
Joe Manchin’s Morning Report The Hill – Biden leans heavily on gun control. Democrats plan to squeeze the GOP over the obstruction. (DW.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema
Kyrsten Sinema’s morning reportThe Hill – Biden’s next act: Massive tax-boosting infrastructure plan McConnell overturns Kentucky Democrat over support for Sinema obstruction ban, Cornyn urges Biden to use ‘full authorities’ at the border MORE (D-Ariz.) They are officially opposed to removing the 60 vote limit and several others have expressed concerns.
King rebuked the progressives in his article on Wednesday, saying that “they seem to have forgotten or are willing to ignore” that the obstruction could help block Republican policies once the Republicans return to the majority.
“Successive congresses oscillate dramatically between opposing ideological views, as well as our laws. The Affordable Care Act could be eliminated or undermined, the Medicare vouchered, social life-saving programs destroyed or environmental protections compromised – only to have those policies reversed some years later for a change in a handful of seats, “wrote King.
But he added that he sees concerns about the actions of a future Senate as only “sustainable” if the minority party insists on demanding 60 votes “in moderation” or “in a good faith effort” to negotiate.
“If, however, the minority remains united and regularly uses that power to block any and all initiatives by the majority (and its president), supporting the continuation of the rule becomes increasingly difficult to justify, regardless of the consequences of long term, “King wrote.
King’s article comes at a time when Senate Democrats are looking to the next phase of their discussions on what to do about the obstruction.
Democrats say the next steps will include bringing to light some of the party’s top priorities that unify the caucus and testing whether or not they can overcome an obstruction.
Democrats say the strategy has two sides: it will make Republicans openly opposed and it can demonstrate to Democrats that they are concerned about reforming legislative obstruction that much of their agenda will be stuck in limbo without reforms.
King suggested this strategy, writing in the Post that “the question for me is how [Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDems plans to squeeze the Republican Party through obstruction. Biden’s allies seek two-step strategy on the Budowsky infrastructure: Trump-McConnell war against voters and democracy MORE and your Republican colleagues will play your hand. “
“[If] they just say no, the need – and the likelihood – for an obstruction reform would only increase. That is, in large part, the result is in your hands, “wrote King.