Over 60 progressive groups urge Schumer to nix filibuster

More than 60 progressive groups signed a letter that was sent to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) urging him to get rid of the filibuster in the Senate. 

The letter is calling for the filibuster to be removed after Democrats won the House, Senate and presidency for the first time since 2011. 

“The results of this election have unlocked the door to change, but another clear obstacle remains: the rules of the United States Senate that allow a partisan minority to block legislation and will prevent the Senate from governing and delivering on the promises they made to voters if they are left in place,” the letter states.

The letter claims the filibuster has been “abused” in recent years and that it has become a “weapon of pure partisan gridlock” and does not contribute to bipartisanship. 

The letter highlighted other Senate changes that have been made in recent years, including the filibuster being removed by Republicans for Supreme Court nominations. 

“The Republican majority also made use of the budget reconciliation process, first used in 1980, to pass their tax bill with a simple majority. And most recently, they changed the so-called ‘McConnell rule’ to advance President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee just weeks before an election after refusing to advance President Obama’s nominee during the final year of his term,” the letter states.

Democrats were known to use the filibuster as well during former President Trump’s tenure to block legislation, including that regarding Trump’s border wall. 

However, the letter says those who supported the filibuster before “now see clearly that it has become something very different in recent years.”

Those who support keeping the filibuster argue that whichever side is in control of the Senate will too easily be able to pass legislation and it will silence the minority.