Warren to voice support for eliminating filibuster

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Friday is expected to announce her support for getting rid of the filibuster under certain conditions.

“The filibuster was used as a tool to block progress on racial justice. And in recent years, it’s been used by the far right as a tool to block progress on everything,” Warren will say at the National Action Network conference, according to an excerpt of her remarks obtained by The Hill.

{mosads}”When Democrats next have power, we should be bold and clear: We’re done with two sets of rules — one for the Republicans and one for the Democrats,” she will say. “When Democrats have the White House again, if [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell tries to do what he did to President Obama, and puts small-minded partisanship ahead of solving the massive problems facing this country, then we should get rid of the filibuster.”

The National Action Network is a civil rights organization founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Some progressives have argued that maintaining the filibuster would eliminate any chance Democrats have of making sweeping reforms if they take back the Senate with fewer than 60 seats, as it would be difficult to reach the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. 

Warren previously told Politico that getting rid of the mechanism should be “on the table.” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who like Warren is running for president, has expressed opposition to getting rid of the filibuster, saying he is “not crazy” about the idea.