Block a bill? Biden wants old-school Senate filibusters
Optimism is spreading in the U.S. as COVID-19 deaths plummet and states ease restrictions and open vaccinations to younger adults. But across Europe, dread is setting in with another wave of infections that is closing schools and cafes and bringing new lockdowns.
The pandemic’s diverging paths on the two continents can be linked in part to the much more successful vaccine rollout in the U.S. and the spread of more contagious variants in Europe.
Health experts in the U.S., though, say what’s happening in Europe should serve as a warning against ignoring social distancing or dropping other safeguards too early.
“Each of these countries has had nadirs like we are having now, and each took an upward trend after they disregarded known mitigation
WASHINGTON >> President Joe Biden wants the Senate to engage in old-fashioned filibusters, forcing senators who try to block bills to have to stand and talk for hours, as happened in Hollywood movies and during the civil rights era, if they want to object to his legislative agenda.
It would be a dramatic shift for the Senate, a throwback, embraced by leading Democrats in the 50-50 chamber who are looking for ways to prevent a Republican blockade of Biden’s priorities.
Requiring a “talking filibuster” strategies,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “They simply took their eye off the ball.”
The result has been a sharp spike in new infections and hospitalizations in several European countries over the past few weeks.
Poland’s rate of new COVID-19 cases has more would force senators opposing a bill to make their case, rather than simply signal objections, but it could also grind the Senate to a halt and turn deliberations into a made-for-TV spectacle with political fallout for all sides.
Biden’s backing gave a boost Wednesday to centrist Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who has suggested a similar approach, but leading senators said they’re not quite ready to make any quick changes.
“I don’t think that you have to eliminate the filibuster. You have to do it what it used to be when I first got to the Senate back in the old days,” Biden than doubled since February, straining its health care system and leading to a three-week nationwide lockdown announced Wednesday for shopping malls, theaters, galleries and sports centers.
Italy closed most of its classrooms at the beginning of this week and expanded areas where restaurants and cafes can do only takeout or delivery. said in an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos. “You had to stand up and command the floor. You had to keep talking.”
The filibuster question is expected to hover over this first year of Biden’s presidency. Fresh off passage of Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, Democrats who control the Senate will face challenges passing the rest of their priorities. While the House is able to approve bills swiftly, the rules of the Senate are more cumbersome. A single senator can now signal an intent to filibuster, setting a 60-vote threshold to advance most legislation.
There are political risks
The country’s health experts say they’re seeing an increasing number of patients who are middle-aged and younger.
In France, officials imposed weekend lockdowns around the French Riviera in the south and the English Channel in the north, and are preparing new restrictions for the Paris region and perhaps beyond to be announced Thursday.
COVID-19 patients occupy 100% of standard intensive care hospital beds in the area surrounding the nation’s capital.
The trends are far more encouraging in the U.S., which has recorded about 537,000 deaths overall, more than any other country.
Deaths per day in the U.S. have plunged to an average of just under 1,300, down from a high of about 3,400 two months ago. New cases are running at about 55,000 per day on average after peaking at more than a quarter-million per day in early January. and rewards at play, and Republican leader Mitch McConnell has vowed a “scorched earth” payback if Democrats change the rules to fully eliminate the filibuster.
For now, Democratic senators want to show Americans what they’re up against by bringing forward potentially popular proposals the House has already passed, including bills to expand voting rights and background checks for gun purchases, and forcing Republican opponents to articulate the case against them.
Velma Elizabeth Crosby, 100, passed away on March 10, 2021 surrounded by her beloved family. She was born April 1, 1920 in Stigler, Oklahoma to John Cleveland and Emma Ary. In addition to her parents, Velma was preceded in death by her husband, John Henry Crosby, and Seven of her brothers. Velma is survived by her brother JR Ary, her children Jay Crosby (Ines), Clyde Crosby, Charlene Boone, Pasty Crane (Larry), Earlene Decker ( Steve), Jean King Tracy (Larry), 16 grandchildren, 49 great- grandchildren, and 1 great-greatgrandson. Grandma Crosby loved spending time with her family, especially the little ones. She also loved playing softball, quilting, flowers, gardening, and making everyone laugh. A viewing will be held under the direction of Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary on Thursday March 18, 2021 from 1-4 PM. A Celebration Of Life will be Friday March 19, 2021 at the Orland Cemetery District at 12:30 PM. Our Family would like to express our appreciation for the care and compassion provided by Enloe Hospice for our loving Mother.