🔺 What to do when markets are at an all-time high? Find smart bargains, like these.See Undervalued Stocks

U.S. Senator Sinema sinks Democrats' hopes for passing voting rights reform

Published 01/13/2022, 12:52 PM
Updated 01/13/2022, 07:55 PM
© Reuters. U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) looks on following the Senate Democrats weekly policy lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

By Moira Warburton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema rejected President Joe Biden's plea to jettison the Senate's filibuster https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-senate-democrats-mull-ending-filibuster-pass-voting-rights-reform-2022-01-11 rule to allow Democrats to pass a voting-rights bill, all but ensuring the bill's failure.

Sinema called the measure a critical tool to tamp down the nation's deepening political divisions, while fellow centrist Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said removing the guardrail would allow simple majorities to ram through extreme legislation.

Sinema took to the Senate floor to reiterate her opposition shortly before Biden met with fellow Democrats in the Senate to urge them to unite around the idea and pass a law he said was critical to offsetting a wave of new restrictions on ballot access passed in Republican-led states.

She blasted the wave of new laws restricting ballot access in Republican-led states as undemocratic, but said she would not agree to change the Senate's rules to pass a federal law countering them.

"I will not support separate actions that worsen the underlying disease of division in our country," Sinema said. "Some have given up on the goal of easing our divisions and uniting Americans. I have not."

After the meeting, Biden acknowledged that the bill might not succeed due to the pair's opposition to the rule change.

Manchin later reiterated his opposition to the move, saying, "Ending the filibuster would be the easy way out."

The chamber's 50 Republicans are united in opposition to the voting-rights reform bill, which they dismiss as a partisan power grab. Democrats need all 50 of their votes in the upper chamber to agree to change the filibuster.

Sinema said that previous changes to the filibuster proved to be mistakes.

"These shortsighted actions by both parties have led to our current American judiciary and Supreme Court, which as I stand here today is considering questions regarding fundamental rights Americans have enjoyed for decades," Sinema said.

Democrats in 2013 eliminated the 60-vote threshold for most administration nominees, and Republicans followed up in 2017 and did the same thing for Supreme Court nominees. That cleared the way for Republican President Donald Trump to name three conservatives to the court in his four years in office, establishing a 6-3 majority.

© Reuters. U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) looks on following the Senate Democrats weekly policy lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

Sinema's speech was attended by more Republican senators than those of her own party.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who was present on the floor for her speech, told reporters afterwards that it was "extraordinarily important" and said that Sinema's "act of political courage" had "saved the Senate as an institution."

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.