WASHINGTON – The People Act, the Democrats’ right to vote bill with the full support of Joe Biden does not cross the Republican wall in the Senate. a sharp defeat for the progressive side and for the president’s reform agenda. But the fundamental problem that could be just the first in a long sequence. Republicans are using the tool of the filibuster, obstruction to the bitter end, to paralyze the parliamentary debate and sabotage the administration’s plans, from arms control to economic recovery measures.
I found these maneuvers revolting to block the measure, Biden said. After a day of bitter controversy, the scheme developed by Senator Jeff Merkley did not collect the 60 votes needed to reach the confrontation in the Chamber. On March 3, the Chamber of Deputies, controlled by the Democrats, had approved a series of measures, in response to the offensive unleashed on the territory by the Republicans. Donald Trump, after losing the presidential elections in November 2020, pushed conservatives to pass state laws that made it more difficult for ethnic minorities to get to the polls, starting with the African Americans.
The series started in Georgia and Arizona, the new states decisive for Biden’s victory. Rules have been introduced which, among other things, complicate postal voting. In some cases the constraints are simply ridiculous. In Georgia, among other things, it will henceforth be forbidden to bring food or water to people queuing outside polling stations. The conservative wave of the South has rapidly spread across much of the country: now 14 states have adopted similar models. Texas could also be added in the fall. The reaction of the Democrats, therefore, started from the Washington Congress, with the mobilization not only of the White House, but also of former President Barack Obama.
The provision sunk yesterday provided for the modernization of voting procedures and, above all, numerous simplifications: from registration to the delivery of ballots, in person or by correspondence. At this point there is still one possibility. Senator Joe Manchin, the most moderate of the Democrats, will try to mediate on another formula that accommodates some demands from the Republicans. For example, provide that the voter is always recognized with an identity document. Obama agreed. But if Manchin’s initiative doesn’t work either, Biden has already warned that he will openly address the issue of filibuster. Specifically, he will have to convince the moderate wing (Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema and others) to support the nuclear option: the senators vote by majority to put an end to the obstruction. Republicans did it when they were holding the Senate. Now that they are in the minority they speak of a serious attack on democracy.
June 22, 2021 (change June 22, 2021 | 23:25)
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