Democrat Voting Bill Fails in the Senate, Preserving Filibuster

A bipartisan Senate majority blocked the Democrat’s attempt to pass a voting bill and change the filibuster on Wednesday night.

Democratic senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia joined all Senate Republicans in preventing the passage of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.

According to the Associated Press, the Democrat’s bill would have made Election Day a national holiday, provided access to early voting and mail-in ballots and allowed the Justice Department to get involved in states with a record of voter interference, among other things.

The bill had previously passed the Democrat-led Congress.

While Manchin and Sinema supported the legislation, they were unwilling to join their Democratic colleagues’ attempt to alter the 60-vote threshold. During Manchin’s speech, he warned that changing the filibuster would further fuel the “dysfunction that is tearing this nation apart.”

In a statement by Sinema, the Arizona Senator said that the results “must not be the end of our work to protect our democracy.” At the same time, however, she warned, “these challenges cannot be solved by one party or Washington alone.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, who briefly presided over the Senate, left before the final 51-49 vote.

Democrats, including President Joe Biden, have alleged that Republican-led states were passing laws aimed at suppressing African American and minority voters.

Wednesday’s outcome comes after Biden completed his first year in office.

“I am profoundly disappointed that the Senate has failed to stand up for our democracy. I am disappointed — but I am not deterred,” the president tweeted.

“We will continue to advance necessary legislation and push for Senate procedural changes that will protect the fundamental right to vote,” he asserted.

I am profoundly disappointed that the Senate has failed to stand up for our democracy. I am disappointed — but I am not deterred.

We will continue to advance necessary legislation and push for Senate procedural changes that will protect the fundamental right to vote.

— President Biden (@POTUS) January 20, 2022

Biden, who delivered his first press conference in months on Wednesday, faced criticism for a tumultuous first year of his presidency amid Republican opposition and disunity amongst Democrats.

Photo courtesy: Pexels

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.

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