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Andrew Hyman's avatar

There are not 50 votes to eliminate the filibuster.

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Kelly D Johnston's avatar

There might be 51 votes to eliminate the filibuster.

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Andrew Hyman's avatar

Alas, you may be right. “In a series of television interviews, Manchin emphasized his support for the filibuster rule, which effectively imposes a 60-vote threshold for most legislative action in the Senate. But he told Meet the Press host Chuck Todd that ‘if you want to make [filibustering] a little bit more painful — make them stand there and talk — I’m willing to look at any way we can.’

“He also reiterated that same point elsewhere on Sunday, telling Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday that ‘[the filibuster] should be painful if you want to use it.’”

But even if filibusterers must stand and talk, the 50 GOP Senators could talk for a very very long time.

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Kelly D Johnston's avatar

I would love to be wrong, but I never felt neither he or Sen. Sinema could ultimately be trusted on the matter. Manchin clearly lied about wanting a bipartisan COVID "relief" or "American Rescue Plan" Act.

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