Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) cited Washington Examiner reporting in his criticism Monday from the chamber floor of Democrats rekindling their love for the filibuster now that they’re in the minority.
Seeking to stonewall congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump, Senate Democrats last week launched their third legislative filibuster of the new Congress, blocking GOP legislation that would bar transgender-identified biological males from competing in women’s sports.
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“As the Washington Examiner piece made clear, some Democrats are even embracing their hypocrisy,” Thune said in floor remarks. “Abolishing the filibuster isn’t about principle for Democrats. It’s about political advantage. So, Democrats will unashamedly support different rules depending on who is in charge.”
SENATE DEMOCRATS REKINDLE THEIR LOVE FOR THE FILIBUSTER UNDER TRUMP
Thune and other Senate GOP leaders have vowed to leave the filibuster unchanged. It’s the most powerful tool in the minority’s limited arsenal, a reality that Democrats are mindful of as they recognize the hypocrisy in embracing a process they for years tried to abolish or overhaul when they were in the majority.
“I love it now,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), who’s long advocated dismantling the legislative filibuster. “We all like rules that help us, and right now that we’re in the minority, it’s very useful to us. I have no problem using whatever tools are available to us.”