Senate Begins Final Push On Voting Rights Bills With Eye To Filibuster Reform

Reporter, HuffPostThe Senate’s fight to pass voting rights legislation is poised to come to its conclusion in the next two weeks, as Democrats aim to finally show if they have the votes to unilaterally change the chamber’s filibuster currently standing in the way.Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) promised to bring the party’s voting rights bills to the floor for votes and ― if they are blocked by filibusters again ― to push for changes to the filibuster rules to enable the bills’ passage by Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 17. But Manchin has already publicly expressed his distaste for a carve-out, saying, “Anytime there’s a carve-out, you eat the whole turkey.” Still, Democrats are pleased that he remains engaged in negotiations.Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are scheduled go to Atlanta to visit Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock’s Ebenezer Baptist Church and lay a wreath at Martin Luther King Jr.’s burial site, before heading to Morehouse College for speeches on the voting rights push and the need to change filibuster rules on Tuesday.An outside coalition of groups backing the voting rights bills is also organizing phone banks and letter-writing campaigns to urge Democratic senators to support changes to the filibuster.