Filibuster Carve Out: No Such Thing

Speaking in Georgia today, President Biden will formally abandon his long-standing support for the legislative filibuster and endorse a “carve out” for the “voting rights” agenda that he and his party have quixotically elected to pursue. “Mr. Biden,” the New York Times confirms, “will not go so far as to call for full-scale elimination of the filibuster, a Senate tradition that allows the minority party to kill legislation that fails to garner 60 votes.” Instead, he “will endorse changing the Senate rules” to allow only for what he wishes to achieve in the next month. Americans who tune in to the speech should refuse to fall for the ruse.

Biden can characterize the move however he likes, but he cannot hide the uncomfortable fact that, in practical terms, he is endorsing the wholesale abolition of the filibuster, for all legislation, in all circumstances, and under majorities held by either party. There is no such thing as a “narrow exception” to this rule. If the Democrats proceed, they will alter the Senate forever.

About the Author

Charles C. W. Cooke

Charles C. W. Cooke is a senior editor at National Review and the host of The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast.

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Speaking in Georgia today, President Biden will formally abandon his long-standing support for the legislative filibuster and endorse a “carve out” for the “voting rights” agenda that he and his party have quixotically elected to pursue. “Mr. Biden,” the New York Times confirms, “will not go so far as to call for full-scale elimination of the filibuster, a Senate tradition that allows the minority party to kill legislation that fails to garner 60 votes.” Instead, he “will endorse changing the Senate rules” to allow only for what he wishes to achieve in the next month. Americans who tune in to the speech should refuse to fall for the ruse.

Biden can characterize the move however he likes, but he cannot hide the uncomfortable fact that, in practical terms, he is endorsing the wholesale abolition of the filibuster, for all legislation, in all circumstances, and under majorities held by either party. There is no such thing as a “narrow exception” to this rule. If the Democrats proceed, they will alter the Senate forever.