As Democrats’ legislative agenda faces the roadblock in the Senate that is the legislative filibuster, President Joe Biden opposes efforts to eliminate it.
On Saturday, the Senate narrowly passed Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief packages with a narrow 50-49 vote. No Republicans voted for it.
Democrats were able to pass the legislation with a bare majority through a process known as budget reconciliation which is immune from the filibuster.
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.” Sixty-votes are needed to end a filibuster and allow a bill to advance to a vote.
However, only specific legislation can be passed through reconciliation which means most legislation would require 60-votes. In an evenly divided Senate that is likely to be a heavy lift for Democrats.
During an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield was asked if Biden would support eliminating the filibuster so that Democrats could advance legislation with just 51-votes.
“His preference is not to end the filibuster,” Bedingfield responded. “He wants to work with Republicans, to work with independents. He believes that, you know, we are stronger when we build a broad coalition of support.”
She continued to note that Democrats were able to pass the relief bill without Republican support before adding, “It’s a 50-50 Senate. We understand that. We are going to have to navigate our way through a 50-50 Senate.”
“Well, but we also got it done with the support of 75 percent of the American people, including over 50 percent of Republicans,” she continued. “So, we were able to pass this legislation with massive bipartisan support across the country.”
Democrats were able to shore up support for the bill after making adjustments to the package.
The version passed by the Senate includes $1,400 direct payments to Americans that begin to phase out for singles who make over $75,000 a year.
Additionally, the weekly supplemental unemployment benefits were decreased from $400 to $300.
And eight Democratic senators voted to block a bid to include a provision that would have raised the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
While some Democrats have suggested the filibuster should be abolished, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) — who would need to vote in favor of the move — has voiced his opposition to it.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) has also voiced her opposition to eliminating the filibuster, meaning Democrats, for now, do not have the votes required to scrap it.