Plot Hatched to Eliminate Senate Filibuster
The US Senate has sat strangely on the sidelines over the debate to extend the debt limit. Our intreprid NSA source provides a transcript of a call between two US Senators. Satire warning.
Satire. Maybe.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
“Somebody get that, please!” yells Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in his second-floor Capitol office, his door uncharacteristically open on a bright sunny late afternoon, the sun warming his office through old windows on a stunning Spring day. He sees staff out his window, on his expansive portico overlooking Washington, DC’s Mall, to the west, deep in discussion.
Schumer’s intercom rings, and he picks up. “Senator Warren on line two,” says the receptionist, referring to the two-term senior Democratic Senator from Massachusetts, former Harvard Law professor, presidential candidate in 2020, Oklahoma native, and a political progressive who used to be a conservative Republican until 1996. She’s considered a shoo-in for reelection to a third term in 2024 from deep-blue Massachusetts.
“Fine, I’ll take it,” he says, punching line two on his large desk phone. “Liz, how are you?”
“Chuck!” she almost yells, now pausing for effect, her voice almost a whisper. “Now is the TIME!”
“Okay, Liz, time for what, exactly?” Schumer asks, his wheels turning; given her Banking Committee and Finance Committee assignments, he thinks she has an idea on dealing with the debt limit debate.
He wasn’t wrong.
“It’s time to get rid of the filibuster! Before you say no, hear me out, this debt limit deal provides the perfect opportunity, and we’re crazy if we don’t seize it,” Warren said, pouncing in excitement.
“Well, Liz, I’m happy to hear you out, but you know we need 51 votes to overturn a ruling of the chair.” Schumer refers to an arcane provision known as the “nuclear option,” which allows for rules to be changed by a simple majority vote to overrule the chair. It’s how Democratic Leader Harry Reid eliminated the 60-vote supermajority requirement to end debate on judicial and executive branch nominees except for the Supreme Court in 2013. GOP Majority Leader Mitch McConnell followed suit in 2017 to eliminate the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees.
“I’m all for removing the filibuster and moving our agenda. Still, we have two colleagues in the way,” Schumer said, referring to West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin - trailing by 14 points in polling for his reelection in deep-red West Virginia against incumbent Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV), and Kyrsten Sinema, the Democrat-turned-Independent in a tough three-way battle for reelection in purple Arizona. Sinema at least continues to caucus with the Democrats, securing their majority - for now.
“Chuck, do you want the Senate to have a role in the debt limit debate or not?” Warren strategically asks.
“Well, Liz, I need 60 votes for something, and I don’t have it right now,” Schumer responds. “I have a letter from 43 Republican senators saying they’ll vote against any clean debt limit increase, and I’m not sure I have all 51 Democrats on board right now, either. You know this, we’re all waiting to see what the White House comes up with.”
Silence.
“Chuck. You know how Joe Biden ‘negotiates’ when he’s COHERENT (she says for emphasis). HE CAVES. McCarthy has him over a barrel. He can barely tie his shoes! It’s time for us to intervene. Let me tell you how,” Warren says excitedly.
Schumer rolls his eyes. “Go ahead, Liz, I’m listening.”
“First, let’s assume that the negotiations between the House Neanderthals and the White House go badly, and we’re bordering on brinksmanship. Pretty safe assumption, if you ask me,” Warren adds.
“Second, you know that Wall Street is already fretting over a possible default. Every first question I get from the DC lobby community is about the debt ceiling. I know this is a regular drama around here, but the stock market is already beginning to reflect the panic settling in. And Biden’s stupid talk about the 14th Amendment is a gimmick that DOES NOT HELP,” referring to a theory that the Constitution prohibits defaulting on the public debt, giving him extraordinary powers to address it.
“Third, given a choice between defaulting on the debt and sending our markets and economy into a temporary nose dive, which hurts all incumbents, Manchin and Sinema will cave to their favorite corporate lobbyists. Both have strong ties to Wall Street, useful idiots who are banging their doors down.
“I’ll write their speech for them.” Warren launches into a sing-song rendition of the speech: ‘I strongly support the filibuster and will fight to reinstate it, but we must not abandon our constitutional responsibility to ensure American financial integrity.’ Once that damn filibuster is gone, Katy bar the door!
“Fourth, I’ve talked to Joe and Kyrsten. They’re not saying ‘no.’ They GET IT. You can talk to them yourself. They will happily take credit for not allowing America to default on its obligations,” Warren suggests.
“Fifth, we eliminate the filibuster, pass a clean debt limit, and dump it on McCarthy’s lap. The default becomes their issue. Boom, we’re back in the driver’s seat, and they know it. Oh, sure, they’ll demand a conference, whine, preen, complain, and we’ll say our way or the highway to default—your choice. Do you know what they’ll do? They’ll cave when their Wall Street buddies begin to go nuts. You’ve seen this movie!”
Warren pauses as Schumer’s wheels turn. “Liz, I hear you, and yes, I want to talk to Joe and Kyrsten. I need to canvass a few others in our caucus, including Angus (King, Independent/Democrat from Maine, also up for reelection in 2024) and, of course, Bernie.”
“Oh, hell, Chuck, Bernie is salivating to end the filibuster. You can get 51 votes! GO GET ‘EM! If necessary, Kamala will be your 51st vote,” referring to the Vice President’s ability to break tie votes in the US Senate.
Warren is on a roll now, realizing she needs to speak Schumer’s language.
“Chuck, think of how our progressive base will respond. Money will flow like candy into ActBlue.com. All our incumbents will be awash in cash. Our base will get excited as they realize what we can accomplish without filibusters. We can reform our election laws to eliminate voter ID and stop states from cleaning up their voter rolls. We can repeal those horrible Trump tax cuts. We admit Puerto Rico and DC as states, adding four Senate seats and cementing our majority for years to come. And we can enlarge the Supreme Court to as many seats as we need—game, set, match.
“The sky will be the limit, so long as we have the backbone and the courage to act,” Warren pontificates.
If Schumer bristles at anything, it’s having his courage and backbone challenged.
“Liz, I’ll look into it, but you’d better be right about Sinema and Manchin. And you’d better arrange for other colleagues to reinforce your point of view.
“If you can guarantee me 51 votes, I’ll do it. It will change the Senate forever, and we can forget about cooperation with Republicans, but you’re right. We can deliver for the Democratic base, which is a little depressed.
“No shit, Sherlock!” Warren exclaims.
“So, Liz, any issues with the reelection? Any help you need from me?” Schumer asks a typical question of Senate party leaders of their rank-and-file. “You’re running, right?”
Warren takes a deep breath as Schumer’s heart rate accelerates. The Majority Leader does not want to worry about keeping another Senate seat in Democratic hands, especially with popular former Gov. Charlie Baker (R-MA), now an NCAA official, waiting in the wings.
“Chuck, the honest answer is that I’m planning to run for reelection. Especially if we get rid of the filibuster and get real stuff done. But I’m looking seriously at the New Hampshire primary.”
“For PRESIDENT?” Schumer exclaims, looking around to see if anyone heard him. “Liz, don’t do it! We can’t afford a divided party right now! I know Biden has flaws, but you know how I arranged with (Manhattan prosecutor) Alvin Bragg to prosecute Trump and cement GOP support for him. It worked. You know that Biden can beat Trump if Republicans nominate him, and it looks like they will.”
Pause.
“Chuck, Biden is too old and not up to the job now, much less over the next six years. He ain’t getting better. I beat him in the New Hampshire primary in 2020, and I’ll be damned if I sit back and let a nutcase like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. take 30 percent of the vote and force him out. And Kamala, don’t get me started on her.”
“Liz, square with me. Are you running against Joe?” Schumer asks pointedly. “Liz, you came in fourth in 2020 and beat Joe by only 3,000 votes. Bernie won the state, followed by Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar. Don’t do this!”
“I’m looking real seriously at it,” Warren replies. “This is my shot. I’m turning 74 on June 22nd. It’s now or never. I can beat Trump or anyone else the GOP throws at me. I can connect our party with the working class as I’ve done here in Massachusetts. But don’t worry. I won’t leave you high and dry. And don’t worry about Governor Baker. He’s done with politics.”
Schumer slumps in his chair. “Thanks for telling me, Liz. Just keep me apprised. Don’t surprise me. But let’s keep in touch.
“Let’s put the filibuster six feet under and change America.”
Both hang up.