AP |
McConnell's speech comes as progressives see opportunity to end 60-vote hurdle after comments from moderate Dem Manchin
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell threatened on Tuesday to turn the Senate into a "100-car pileup" and block "even the most basic aspects" of its business if Democrats get rid of the legislative filibuster as progressives are asking.
McConnell, R-Ky., made the comments in a floor speech on Tuesday that was similar to others he's previously made during times of increased chatter about getting rid of the filibuster.
"So let me say this very clearly for all 99 of my colleagues. Nobody serving in this chamber can even begin to imagine what a completely scorched-earth Senate would look like," McConnell said. "None of us have served one minute in a Senate that was completely drained of comity and consent. This is an institution that requires unanimous consent to turn the lights on before noon, to proceed with a garden-variety floor speech."
McConnell added: "I want our colleagues to imagine a world where every single task, every one of them, requires a physical quorum. Which, by the way, the vice president does not count in determining a quorum. This chaos would not open up an express lane for liberal change ... The Senate would be more like a 100-car pileup, nothing moving." --->READ MORE HERESchumer dismisses filibuster threat: 'McConnell is looking for a diversion':
Republicans are trying to distract from the popular Democratic agenda by complaining about a possible move to eliminate the filibuster, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday.
The New York Democrat told reporters that Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s threat to bring the Senate to a halt if Democrats spike the filibuster is a political tactic to steer attention away from the popular Democratic policy agenda items, including the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 spending package President Biden signed into law last week.
“Sen. McConnell is always looking for a diversion,” Schumer said.
On Tuesday, McConnell said that if Democrats eliminate the 60-vote threshold, Republicans will pursue a “scorched earth” approach to block the consent needed to do just about everything in the Senate. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to related stories:
McConnell’s Filibuster Throwdown
McConnell vows ‘100-car pileup’ in Senate if Dems kill filibuster
McConnell offers scathing 'scorched earth' filibuster warning
McConnell threatens 'scorched-earth' Senate if Democrats end filibuster
McConnell warns of GOP retribution if Democrats eliminate filibuster
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