Sen. Joe Manchin has failed to get bipartisan support in the Senate for any major piece of legislation. He claims that we need to keep the filibuster so that Republicans and Democrats will work together. But this claim is belied by the fact he has not been able to muster 10 Republicans to sign on to any bill that would address one of the country’s major needs.
Democrats and Republicans have not agreed to any solution to climate change, the healthcare crisis, police abuse of power, or any other major issue. Where is the legislation that guarantees Americans the right to a free and fair vote? The parties can’t even get it together on the relatively straightforward issues of infrastructure, where in theory everyone agrees we need major spending. If the filibuster is the key to the parties working in harmony, we should have several bills waiting for the President’s signature right now, if not already signed into law.
It’s not that Manchin has no friends in the Republican Party. A recent Politico podcast, The senators at the center of the 50-50 split, EP307, shows how Manchin and Sen. Lisa Murkowski have developed a close relationship. Personally, I think this is a case of keeping your enemies closer, because if the Democratic Party could get Murkowski to change parties and vote to eliminate the filibuster, as I suggested in Without Joe Manchin, his power in the Senate would instantly vanish.
The media should demand from Manchin some kind of accounting for how he will get major legislation passed. When he declared he would not vote to eliminate the filibuster, he took on the responsibility to provide the American people with the solutions they need. He is the roadblock in the way of progress. If he can’t get agreements from Republicans to move forward on key votes, then he should acknowledge that his opposition to reform is hurting the country and agree to vote to eliminate the filibuster now.
Demand the media grill Manchin the next time they have the opportunity. They need to ask him when we will see bills on major issues pass the Senate. It’s his responsibility to get these bills passed, and it is the responsibility of the media to hold him accountable for progress.
See also:
Joe Manchin Named Most Bipartisan Senator For Third Year in a Row by xaxnar
Show us the votes, Joe by Kerry Eleveld