Senators are returning to Washington under intense pressure to pass voting legislation in the face of stark criticism from civil rights leaders.
The House has passed the package, but the legislation is stalled in the Senate, opposed by Republicans. With a 50-50 split, Democrats have a narrow Senate majority — Vice President Kamala Harris can break a tie — but they lack the 60 votes needed to overcome the GOP filibuster.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had shelved a promised Monday rules change vote that would have been linked to the King holiday. But he is pressing ahead Tuesday as advocates push to put senators on record, despite the expectation that no bill will pass by week's end. Senators love to debate the validity of the filibuster and whether laws should be passed with a super-majority of 60 votes or a simple majority of 51 votes. But both parties have benefitted at one time from the filibuster, and both parties have revised the rules when they’ve held the majority votes. So what exactly is the filibuster and why does it matter?
Civil rights leaders have implored the Senate to act swiftly, as states are passing laws that many argue will make it more difficult for Black Americans and others to vote by consolidating polling locations, refusing to allow water distribution in long lines and requiring certain types of identification.
The family of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is honoring him on Monday by leading a voting rights march in Washington D.C. Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey makes the case that voting rights is this generation's civil rights issue.
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