Biden policy

Filibuster change may be required

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden at his first news conference Thursday left the door open to backing fundamental changes in Senate procedure to muscle key parts of his agenda like immigration and voting rights past Republicans “if there’s complete lockdown and chaos.”î

Even as his administration navigates the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic damage, Biden is grappling with how to deliver on a host of big promises despite a razorthin Senate majority. He teased that changes to Senate rules that would allow bills to pass with fewer votes may be necessary.

“If there’s complete lockdown and chaos, as a consequence of the filibuster, then we’re going to have to go beyond what I’m talking about,”î he said.

Despite strong poll numbers, Biden faces headwinds in delivering on his legislative agenda. His party’s congressional majorities are narrow, Republican opposition appears entrenched and not all Democrats are aligned in reforming

Senate rules on the filibuster.

Biden at first backed a modification — not elimination — of the tactic. But he then suggested, at least on certain issues, he would go further, saying the filibuster — which requires 60 votes to pass laws in the Senate — was being “abused in a gigantic way”î by Republicans.

“I want to get things done. I want to get them done consistent with what we promised the American people,” said Biden.î

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at his own press conference Thursday didn’t lean too heavily into filibuster changes, only saying that “everything, everything is on the table.”î

And West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat whose vote is critical, said he thought the rules were there to make sure “the big guy doesn’t pick on the little guy,”î adding that he was trying to protect “basic civility.”î

Biden’s own political future came up at the press conference as well. The 78-year-old president said for the first time his “plan is to run for reelection, that is my expectation.”î

But he made clear his focus was on the here and now and not a distant election. “I am going to deal with all of those problems,”î he pledged.

One key item on the list: Republican efforts to limit voting rights, an effort the president deemed “sick”î and “un-American.”î He argued that even GOP voters believe actions that make it harder for people to cast ballots are “despicable”î attempts to undermine democracy.

The president was repeatedly pressed about the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, where increasing numbers of young migrants have overwhelmed the government’s holding facilities. Biden promised better media access to the camps as well as improvements to the nation’s immigration system and U.S. help to improve conditions in the migrants’ home countries.

And in the aftermath of two mass shootings in a week, Biden was pressed on new gun violence laws. He responded that legislating is “a matter of timing”î and then gave a long-winded answer about his infrastructure plan, which he said will be his administration’s next priority.

Biden had held off on holding his first news conference until he could use it to celebrate progress against the pandemic and passage of a giant COVID-19 relief package.

In his opening remarks, he declared that “hope is on the way,”î and he doubled his original goal on COVID-19 vaccines by pledging that the nation will administer 200 million doses by the end of his first 100 days in office as the president pushes to defeat a pandemic that has killed more than 545,000 Americans.

When Biden moved on to fielding questions, he didn’t get a single query about the virus.

Biden acknowledged several vexing foreign policy problems that he faces immediately, including growing concerns about North Korea’s nuclear program, a May 1 deadline to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, and China’s rising stature as an economic competitor.

On Afghanistan, Biden committed to pulling U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, but expressed doubts about meeting the May 1 deadline that was set by Trump. He said that he did not believe troops would still be there in 2022.

Biden also vowed that China’s ambition of becoming the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world is “not going to happen under my watch.”î

The nationally televised event was a chance for reporters to press Biden and move him away from the carefully curated talking points produced by his White House. There were none of the personal attacks on members of the press like those made by his predecessor, yet at one point he noted that the session had run more than an hour and it was time to wrap up.

“Folks, I’m going,”î Biden said as he walked away.