Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is blasting his Democratic colleagues who claim the filibuster is racist, and arguing they would “ruin” the Senate’s functioning by getting rid of it.
During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press” on Sunday, Toomey blasted his Democratic colleagues for their calls to eliminate the legislative filibuster.
“Some of our Democratic colleagues are simply making a shameful attempt to really ruin what remains of the functioning of the Senate and do long-term damage to the country,” he said.
Toomey went on to note that Democrats supported and used the filibuster while former President Donald Trump was in office.
However, he claimed that they have a different view of the legislative hurdle now that Democrats are in power, “Now when a different party’s in control suddenly it’s become a racist tool? How ridiculous.”
Watch the video below:
Sen. Toomey (R-PA) on filibuster standing in way of gun reform:
— The Recount (@therecount) March 28, 2021
"Some of our Democratic colleagues are simply making a shameful attempt to really ruin what remains of the functioning of the Senate and do long-term damage to the country … suddenly it's become a racist tool?" pic.twitter.com/ULNh05Oi0K
The Senate’s website defines the filibuster as “a loosely defined term for action designed to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill, resolution, amendment, or other debatable question.”
Because of the filibuster, most legislation needs 60 votes to pass the chamber. However, in a 50-50 Senate, it could be difficult for Democrats to win over the 10 Republicans votes they would need to advance legislation.
During his first press conference since taking office, President Joe Biden said he agrees with former President Barack Obama’s statement that the filibuster is a “relic of the Jim Crow era.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has called it racist, and others have called for its elimination.
“The filibuster is a later creation that was designed to give the South the ability to veto any effective civil rights legislation or anti-lynching legislation,” she told Axios earlier this month.
However, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) warned that scrapping the filibuster would lead to a “completely scorched earth Senate.”
He also said his past efforts to hold up legislation would look like “child’s play” if Democrats got rid of the filibuster.