Like many folks on the left, I’ve been concerned about the fundamental disadvantage the Democrats have in the Senate, as well as their inability to pass any meaningful or essential legislation so long as the Filibuster exists (and now with the Supreme court likely trashing most democratic laws it’s even worse).
But there is a way out of this dilemma, and the 2020 presidential candidates need to lead on this issue. The way out is to prioritize statehood as a top priority in a winning presidential bid.
The issues of the filibuster and statehood are intertwined
Senators from both parties prefer the filibuster because it avoids accountability. Beyond that, Republicans prefer it because it stops Democrats from passing popular laws, and Democrats prefer it because they know they have a built in disadvantage in the Senate anyway.
Statehood for Puerto Rico and statehood/representation for DC are the single issue that must overcome Democrat’s reluctance to end the filibuster. If democrats win in 2020 in all three branches, they must insist on a vote for statehood, with a threat to end the filibuster and pass Puerto Rican statehood with a simple majority if Republicans don’t come along (they should be careful opposing statehood if the voters there are going to get power anyway).
- This is manifestly the right thing to do, and can be defended in the court of public opinion. It should be a headline step for a presidential candidates’ platform and first 90 days.
- Adding more senators significantly improves Democrat’s likelihood of reliably contesting the Senate.
Whether the filibuster needs to be destroyed, or is just weakened by a hardball threat of destruction that forces Republicans to cave, THIS is the one issue that is worth taking that step for Democrats. Because it fundamentally rebalances the senate.
Republican policies are unpopular, and Democratic policies must be designed in the future to be clearly popular. Majority rule is scary, but it will force politicians to actually address the country’s needs, or be voted out.
I’m not advocating for a presidential candidate to explicitly run on ending the filibuster – that’s not their job anyway. But they MUST explicitly run on statehood for DC and Puerto Rico. And they must lobby any Democratic senate hard to make this strategic move at the start of their administration, or our country is never going to escape the cycle of Republican rule.
If you want to moderate the republican party, play hardball
Obama adopted a rhetoric and strategy of bipartisanship, but precisely because his appeal and winning electoral strategy involved crossing the aisle with legislators and voters, the opposition naturally pulled towards the antithesis of that – rabid partisanship. If instead Democrats play hardball, that advances their cause no matter what, and in the larger picture actually opens up more incentive for the Republicans to advance a moderate opposition.