Democrats have managed to do a surprising amount with the thinnest possible majority in the Senate—but there’s more they can and must do before the midterm elections, bills already passed in the House that should either pass the Senate or force Republicans to show themselves just before the elections.
Wednesday, Sen. Tammy Baldwin told CNN's Manu Raju that Democrats are “darn close” to getting 10 Republican senators to back a marriage equality bill, saying she “absolutely” wants it passed before November. Yes, this. With a Supreme Court that has shown itself not just willing but eager to overturn far longer-standing precedents than Obergefell v. Hodges, Congress has to act to protect the marriages of millions of people. That’s an important policy—and if 10 Republicans don’t join Democrats to support it, well, the politics don’t work in favor of Republicans.
If Democrats can’t get those 10 Republican votes locked down in private in time for a vote, they still need to hold that vote and see what happens. Republicans will draw this thing out, dangling the possibility of their support, as long as they can in an effort to run out the clock. But when it comes to a public vote, what will they do?
RELATED STORY: Chuck Schumer must make the Senate vote on protections for pregnant workers, before it's too late
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Similarly, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer must bring the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to a vote. That bill is supposedly supported by 13 Republican senators, so it shouldn’t be a problem getting it passed, whereas if Democrats lose the Senate, its chances will fade in a lame-duck session and be virtually nonexistent in a Republican-controlled Senate.
Again, we’re talking about an important policy—guaranteeing pregnant workers reasonable accommodations so they can stay healthy while keeping their jobs—that is also good politics. In addition to its Republican support in Congress, a 2020 poll found it had overwhelming public support. And if Republicans who have supported it to this point suddenly decide they can’t allow Democrats another win and vote it down, they’re showing themselves. The politics are good for Democrats either way, but only if they hold the vote.
Yet advocates are seriously concerned that Schumer shows no signs of bringing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) to the floor for a vote, despite claiming to support the bill himself.
“This is not a controversial bill,” A Better Balance’s Dina Bakst told Politico. “Passing PWFA should be a no-brainer.”
“Instead, we’re in the position of having to beg Senate leadership to bring this urgently needed and wildly popular legislation to the floor for a vote.”
Seriously, Chuck, what gives?
It’s time to bring these two important pieces of legislation to a vote now, while Democrats know for sure they have the chance to do so. In the best case, they become two more important achievements for congressional Democrats and President Joe Biden (while some Republican senators cast very unpopular votes). In the worst case, they show the public who stands where.
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