After more than four months of letting their power to obstruct lie unused in the Senate, the 50-member Senate GOP is ready to mount a filibuster of House-passed legislation creating an independent cross-aisle panel to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection.
If Republicans follow through and block the bill, they will spark a long-building fight over the filibuster’s very existence.
The filibuster has spent months of lurking in the background of the Senate’s daily business, but the battle over the chamber’s 60-vote threshold will erupt as soon as next week.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is plotting to bring the House’s Jan. 6 commission bill to the floor and daring Senate Republicans to block it.
And GOP opposition is hardening by the day. According to interviews with more than a half-dozen Republicans on Thursday, there is almost no path to even opening up debate on the bill — much less passing it.
“I don’t think there will be 10 votes on our side for it,” said Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind). “At this stage, I’d be surprised if you’re gonna get even a handful.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has been circumspect about his use of the filibuster, leaving the tool untouched so far this Congress as his conference has advanced Democratic bills confronting hate crimes, planning water infrastructure and increasing American competitiveness.
But the Jan. 6 commission — and talking about former President Donald Trump for months on end — is a bridge too far for the GOP.
Now that McConnell is pushing his conference toward a filibuster of a bipartisan bill, Democrats see an opportunity to begin making their case to reluctant members that the 60-vote status quo is unsustainable.
As an incredulous Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) put it: “How do you go forward if you can’t make it work over something like an independent commission?"
You could see things from the point of view of a million people and still miss seven billion somethings, none are so omnipresent as to never miss something.
Good ‘toon Scott. Almost frightening how gameware, VR and seems to have taken over a considerable part of the populations lives. Got a PS-4 with a VR headset for my birthday a few years ago and discovered how addictive that word can be. As a result I restrict my usage and only play a few times a year. Not even every month. Too much to experience in real life. The only down side is I feel a bit badly that my family bought me an expensive toy I don’t much use.
On another topic, what the hell does Silly’s comment have to do with this ‘toon? Nothing, zip, nada. If you want to bloviate on something that has nothing to do with the artist/writers work, how about you start your own ‘toon or blog site? Probably because nobody would read it. I got a few sentences into it, saw where it was going, skimmed the rest and chalked it up to 20 lost seconds from my life. For the commenters responding to this type of trash, don’t feed the troll.
Sanspareil over 3 years ago
You’re missing a badly drawn and coloured sunset!
whahoppened over 3 years ago
There’ll be another tomorrow evening. And Wednesday (Thursday?) you might see the start of an eclipse just before sunrise.
superposition over 3 years ago
Sad that we cannot make our reality as pleasant as VR s are.
theotherther1 over 3 years ago
It’s a gradient fill, you’re missing nothing.
Silly Season over 3 years ago
After more than four months of letting their power to obstruct lie unused in the Senate, the 50-member Senate GOP is ready to mount a filibuster of House-passed legislation creating an independent cross-aisle panel to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection.
If Republicans follow through and block the bill, they will spark a long-building fight over the filibuster’s very existence.
The filibuster has spent months of lurking in the background of the Senate’s daily business, but the battle over the chamber’s 60-vote threshold will erupt as soon as next week.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is plotting to bring the House’s Jan. 6 commission bill to the floor and daring Senate Republicans to block it.
And GOP opposition is hardening by the day. According to interviews with more than a half-dozen Republicans on Thursday, there is almost no path to even opening up debate on the bill — much less passing it.
“I don’t think there will be 10 votes on our side for it,” said Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind). “At this stage, I’d be surprised if you’re gonna get even a handful.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has been circumspect about his use of the filibuster, leaving the tool untouched so far this Congress as his conference has advanced Democratic bills confronting hate crimes, planning water infrastructure and increasing American competitiveness.
But the Jan. 6 commission — and talking about former President Donald Trump for months on end — is a bridge too far for the GOP.Now that McConnell is pushing his conference toward a filibuster of a bipartisan bill, Democrats see an opportunity to begin making their case to reluctant members that the 60-vote status quo is unsustainable.
As an incredulous Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) put it: “How do you go forward if you can’t make it work over something like an independent commission?"
~
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/21/filibuster-gop-opposition-commission-489954
BRBurns1960 over 3 years ago
You could see things from the point of view of a million people and still miss seven billion somethings, none are so omnipresent as to never miss something.
RobinHood over 3 years ago
Ecclesiastes 3:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
I guess this includes the digital age.
RobinHood over 3 years ago
Meanwhile The Kanamit fleet just landed.
sandflea over 3 years ago
U R
Kracklin Rosie - “Tolo Dan Nan Galad” over 3 years ago
Good ‘toon Scott. Almost frightening how gameware, VR and seems to have taken over a considerable part of the populations lives. Got a PS-4 with a VR headset for my birthday a few years ago and discovered how addictive that word can be. As a result I restrict my usage and only play a few times a year. Not even every month. Too much to experience in real life. The only down side is I feel a bit badly that my family bought me an expensive toy I don’t much use.
ferddo over 3 years ago
Same thing happens when you watch Faux News all the time…
Kracklin Rosie - “Tolo Dan Nan Galad” over 3 years ago
On another topic, what the hell does Silly’s comment have to do with this ‘toon? Nothing, zip, nada. If you want to bloviate on something that has nothing to do with the artist/writers work, how about you start your own ‘toon or blog site? Probably because nobody would read it. I got a few sentences into it, saw where it was going, skimmed the rest and chalked it up to 20 lost seconds from my life. For the commenters responding to this type of trash, don’t feed the troll.
GiantShetlandPony over 3 years ago
I don’t get virtual reality, when there is so much reality to be explored.