The usual unconscionable obstruction from Senate Republicans continues to bedevil any efforts by Democrats to pass legislation. This time, what should have been a pro forma vote on the January 6 investigation failed by three votes.
The partisan divide is vast, and a public spat between Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader, illustrated it well. Collins worked ahead of time to get more Republicans to vote Yes, but she disagreed completely on Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's approach to introducing the bill. In her eyes, his finger-shaking speech undercut her efforts.
Even Joe Manchin, conservative Democrat from West Virginia, was at his wit's end. He says he asked the Senate's Darth Vader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, "We disagree, but how can you disagree on killing the country?’”
What he seemed to be talking about is that Republicans don't even want to explore the only attempt at insurrection that has ever occurred in the United States. Those senators think their best chance to keep their own seats is to follow lockstep to Donald Trump's marching orders in a craven attempt at putting the head of that insurrection back in the White House. "Kill the country" is dead on.
The Jan. 6 commission vote was the last vote of the week, and it followed late-night scuffling on another bill designed to help the U.S. compete more successfully against China. Democrats agreed to accept amendment after amendment from Republicans, only to be told by ur-Trumpist Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) on Friday, “Do you not understand this process — how you just get dumped on you hundreds of pages of complex legislative text and you’re expected to say, ‘Yay or nay’?”
Meanwhile, Johnson, Rand Paul (Ky.), and Rick Scott (Fla.) tried to stretch out the voting with procedural noodling, while McConnell wasn't near the Senate floor to stop them. And then everyone took off for a week's vacation.
The Senate has yet to tackle voting on the infrastructure bill.
It's scary, because it's all in the interests of Donald Trump.
Do you think the Democrats should destroy the filibuster so they can pass bills without Republican votes? Or would that give Republicans a verbal weapon to use in 2022?
Do you think that Democrats should go through the reconciliation process when it's possible rather than try to fight the Senate?
Will Republicans eventually self-destruct?
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/556061-senate-meltdown-reveals-deepening-partisan-divide?fbclid=IwAR094uBd8hODwZKBEfOSNM9r55usQ2TGrIZf2K5EIhjVUcXjHJYJBu3Sgoc&rl=1
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