Senate Republicans Block Democrat ‘Voting Rights’ Bills, Setting Up Filibuster Showdown

Senate Republicans blocked consideration of two “voting rights” bills on Wednesday night, setting the stage for Democrats to try remove the legislative filibuster.

The Senate voted 49-51 not to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 5746. H.R. 5746, an unrelated NASA bill and the legislative vehicle for two voting rights bills, the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Democrats overwhelmingly voted for cloture, while Republicans voted in lockstep against the motion. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) voted against the motion so that he could bring it up again.

Now that Republicans blocked the bill, Schumer could likely try to remove the legislative filibuster and replace it with a “talking filibuster.” The Senate requires 60 votes to invoke cloture and end debate on legislation, but the talking filibuster would require senators to continuously speak on the Senate floor to prevent a vote on the floor. If senators stop speaking, the Senate would only require 51 votes to pass legislation. – READ MORE