Biden says he supports the return to ‘talk obstruction’

President bidenJoe Biden’s Morning ReportThe Hill – Presented by Facebook – Split screen: Biden sells stimulus; The GOP points out that the border RNC will accompany Biden as he promotes the COVID-19 relief bill. Dems’ momentum hits the tide over infrastructure plans said for the first time on Tuesday that it supports changing the Senate’s obstruction rules to bring back the so-called “talking obstructionist”, a notable change after the White House insisted its preference was to make no changes.

Biden during an interview with ABC News anchor George StephanopoulosGeorge Robert StephanopoulosThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Biden goes on the road, proclaims COVID-19 relief law Biden must sit down for ABC News interview when COVID-19 Secretary of Treasury relief tour begins says the economy may have ‘almost full employment’ next year MORE he said he endorsed the obstruction reform by returning to the tradition of talking about obstruction – when senators need to be in the plenary talking to block projects – because “democracy is having a hard time working.”

“You had to get up and command and keep talking,” said Biden. “When you stop talking, you lose it and someone can come in and say, I move on to the question of

“You have to work for the obstruction,” said Biden. “It’s almost getting to the point where democracy is having a hard time functioning.”

Biden noted that he did not think the Senate needed to get rid of the obstruction. Still, his comments on Tuesday will be welcomed by party members, who have been pushing for reforms and will increase the momentum behind such a change.

Press Secretary of the White House Jen PsakiJen PsakiDems’ momentum hits the mire over infrastructure plans Huge fight looms over tax hike Sister of North Korean leader responds to the White House with vague warning MORE told reporters on Tuesday that Biden’s “preference” is “not to make changes” to the obstruction, but she did not rule it out.

“He is also open to hearing ideas. And these discussions will take place in Congress. Of course, this is a Senate rule. It is not a law that he would change or sanction, ”Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Democrats need 60 votes to interrupt debate over most legislative pieces in the Senate, which means that the obstruction represents a major obstacle for Biden to fulfill his legislative agenda, given the 50-50 composition of the upper house.

Democrats used the special budget reconciliation process to approve Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus relief project without Republican support earlier this month.

Sen. Dick DurbinDick DurbinNo. 2 Democratic Senate strikes obstruction Oregon senator takes center stage in Democratic obstructionist debate Republican strikes Biden relief project MORE (Ill.), The second Senate Democrat, harshly rebuked the obstructionist on Monday, arguing, like Biden, that this was damaging democracy.

“The obstructionist still makes fun of American democracy. The obstruction is still being misused by some senators to urgently block necessary legislation and supported by a large majority of the American people, ”said Durbin in a plenary address.

Biden’s comments to ABC came on the same day as the Senate minority leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellConservative group rips Toomey as ‘RINO’, highlighting GOP change Night defense: Capitol Police plans to reduce the fence | Tucker Carlson’s comment on women in the military continues | US attempts to restart negotiations with North Korea Xinjiang’s forced labor complex is growing – President Biden must work with Congress to restrict it MORE (R-Ky.) He warned the Democrats against changing the obstruction rules.

“Let me say this very clearly to all 99 of my colleagues: no one serving in this Chamber can even begin, can even begin, to imagine what a completely scorched-earth Senate would be like,” McConnell said in the Senate plenary. “I want our colleagues to imagine a world where each task, each one, requires a physical quorum.”

Sens. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinDems’ momentum hits the tide over infrastructure plans Conservative group says Toomey is’ RINO ‘, underscoring the move by the Republican Party that plans the first big tax hike in nearly 30 years: report MORE (DW.Va.) and Kyrsten SinemaKyrsten SinemaLawmakers warn of funding risk if 144 cities are reclassified as ‘micropolitan’ areas. McConnell offers a ‘scorched earth’ obstruction alert, Oregon senator takes center stage in the Democratic debate. (D-Ariz.) It does not support the complete elimination of obstruction, which means that Democrats would not have the votes to do so. However, Manchin had already suggested that he may be open to going back to the talking obstructionist.