Senate Democrats Press Ahead With Debate on Voting Rights Bill

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

ASHINGTON — Senate Democrats plan to press ahead this week with an effort to push new voting rights protections through Congress, in an all but doomed attempt to enact a key piece of President Biden’s agenda that has been undercut by members of his own party.

The Senate on Tuesday will begin to debate legislation that combines two separate bills already passed by the House — the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act — and folds them into an unrelated measure. The move would allow the Senate to bring the bill directly to the floor, avoiding an initial filibuster.

But that strategy would still allow Republicans to block it from coming to a final vote, and Democrats lack the unanimous support needed in their party to change Senate rules to muscle through the legislation themselves. Still, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, said late last week that Democrats would forge ahead anyway, forcing Republicans to publicly declare their opposition to the bill.

“We all have to be recorded at this moment in time about where are we in protecting the right to vote,” Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “Right now, it doesn’t look like it has the votes to pass, but we’re going to cancel our Martin Luther King Day recess and be there this week because we think it’s so important for the country.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/senate-democrats-press-ahead-with-debate-on-voting-rights-bill/ar-AASSt8x

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. Schumer can force a vote on the rule change, and that is where Manchin & Sinema go on the record. Nt

[FBaggins]

2. It doesn't do a thing to Manchin and Sinema

They're as "on the record" as is possible at this point.

The senators who are potentially hurt are the ones who are intentionally vague on the filibuster because taking a firm position in either direction is likely to hurt their electoral chances (either with the base or with swing voters). Forcing them to go on the record when there's no chance of winning is a pretty boneheaded move... but it's what many progressives are insisting on.

[Fiendish Thingy]

3. Because it's the right thing to do.

What may seem “boneheaded” politically to some is considered standing by Democratic principles with integrity by others.

[FBaggins]

5. What an odd definition of "standing by Democratic principles with integrity"

If it costs us two more seats in the Senate it will be thin gruel consolation to say "at least we made them stand by their principles"

Abbie Hoffman : Winning elections, that's the first thing on your wish list? Equality, justice, education, poverty and progress, they're second?

Tom Hayden : If you don't win elections, it doesn't matter what's second. And it is astonishing to me that someone still has to explain that to you.

[Fiendish Thingy]

6. Which two seats will Dems lose in 2022 if they force a vote on the rule change?

If you’re talking about Manchin and Sinema switching parties, that’s unlikely, and regardless, has nothing to do with winning elections.

So, other than that scenario, which two seats are at risk in 2022 if Schumer forces a vote on the rule change?

[FBaggins]

7. I'm not talking about party-switching by Manchin/Sinema

Kelly and Cortez Masto are probably most at risk... But it sure won't help Hassan or Warnock.

Depending on how far things slide, it could make Bennet's seat competitive. But that's a pretty big stretch.

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. Kelly and Warnock are both from anti-democracy states

Where the legislature has given itself the power to reject results they don’t like, so not sure how taking a principled stand could make things any worse for them.

But, if standing up for democracy makes the Dems a minority party, then America deserves the chaos that will follow.

[Bettie]

4. I hope someone takes this opportunity to

point out the quotes that Republicans posted yesterday and discuss how they are entirely at odds with Dr. King's message as their actions and other statements indicate that they do not want people who aren't white to vote.

And we need to make this statement, that Democrats (or the majority of them) are in favor of people being able to exercise their right to vote.