Senate Democrats have expressed increasing openness to reforming the filibuster, a centuries-old Senate rule allowing just 41 members of the 100-person chamber to effectively block most legislation – but while such a change could smooth the path for passing major legislation, Republicans have vowed to make Democrats regret it.... [+]Getty ImagesThe filibuster is all-but-certain to remain in some form given that moderate Democrats like Sens.
But Manchin has also expressed openness to a talking filibuster, which, rather than allowing a senator to simply indicate they have the 40 votes necessary to block legislation, would require them to stand on the house floor and speak for as long as they’re trying to delay a close to debate. That plan has been endorsed by President Joe Biden, a former stalwart of the Senate who has long sided with opponents of filibuster reform, but who said in anthat Sen. Jeff Merkley , long an advocate for reform, has lobbied him on his talking filibuster proposal, adding that he believes the idea has “merit” because “it’ll cut down on the number of filibusters.”
But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to bring the chamber to its knees if Democrats go ahead with their machinations on the filibuster,McConnell said Republicans would use the many individual rights granted to senators to create delays on basic procedural steps the Senate usually takes without issue, such as requiring a 51-senator quorum – difficult for Democrats to muster alone given that they only hold 50 seats.