Dear Joe and Krystin,
Recently there has been much debate about whether the Democrats should do away with the filibuster. You are the two most prominent Democrats arguing against eliminating it. You make the arguments from the standpoint of tradition and protecting the rights the minority. You also worry that it will make things hard on the Democrats and their voters when the day comes that the GOP is back in control. While I understand your points, I’d like to offer a different perspective.
If the filibuster is removed, you two become the filibuster. With the Senate divided 50/50 all it would take is for one of you to say “no” to any bill and it wouldn’t pass. You can hold the line on your beliefs about what is good for the country by simply voting against any legislation you disagree with. Sure there would be fallout, but that’s no different than what you are dealing with now.
Having this power would give you enormous control over legislation or even the ability to bring back pork to your home states. You would be able to wield enormous influence over the legislative process. See that graphic at the top? That can be you — over and over and over again. You don’t need to wait for the GOP to stop bills from coming to the floor or allowing them to pass.
YOU BECOME THE TRAFFIC COP!
Meanwhile all the things you want to see pass are no longer subject to GOP obstruction. I know we don’t agree on everything, but we do agree on most things. 70%+ in Senator Manchin’s case. Why let the GOP hold up that 70%? Mitch isn’t going to allow his caucus to splinter, but with you two leading the way more centrist GOP Senators might come along for the ride, knowing the bill will pass anyway, and that could have far reaching implications for midterm elections. The GOP has choices to make about whether to stay with Trump or turn away. This simple act could aid that division and force GOP Senators to choose.
Or not and we can go back to the days where only bills that can be passed by reconciliation will be allowed to come to the floor. No voting rights, no workers rights, no immigration reform, and the voters who sent us here will watch in disgust as the Dems allow the GOP to run roughshod over our agenda again… and again… and again… Will those people turn out in 2022 if that happens? Many of them didn’t in 2010, and look what that got us.
Please have the strength to help change this course. Step up and say no to GOP obstructionism. You have the power now and you’d have even more power afterwards. Meanwhile, a whole lot of good can be done, and Mitch McConnell and the Trump contingent can go pound sand.