Harry Reid argues that the Senate’s 60-vote threshold to proceed on legislation has only held back sweeping bills that would address gun violence, climate change and reforming immigration laws
Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Monday called for abolishing the legislative filibuster, citing unprecedented gridlock in the Senate.
The Senate in recent years has steadily changed legislative rules, with its leadership citing the need for efficiency. During his tenure as majority leader, Reid changed Senate rules in 2013 to get rid of the filibuster for most presidential appointees. In 2017, Senate Republicans abolished the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees.
By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time.Sen. Elizabeth Warren has said “everything stays on the table” when asked about axing the filibuster, while Sen. Cory Booker wants to maintain it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recently said “nothing’s off the table” when asked whether Democrats would abolish the filibuster if they take back the Senate in 2020.
In his op-ed, Reid acknowledged the filibuster is a symbol of the Senate’s tradition of being more tempered than the House of Representatives and of the bipartisan relationships between senators. But he said times have changed. “We are not living in the same legislative world anymore,” Reid said. “If anything, the Senate is more gridlocked and polarized than ever. As I said in 2013, the Senate is a living thing, and to survive, it must change — just as it has throughout the history of our country.”
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