Letter to Senators Bennet & Hickenlooper re "The For the People Act, the Manchin Alternative, and the Filibuster

My email sent today to our Senators Bennet & Hickenlooper. How about you? 

Dear Senator: 

Thank you for co-sponsoring S. 1, the “For the People Act.” At a time when too many state legislatures are acting to reduce access to voting and to subvert the democratic process, your willingness to act in support of this fundamental right is crucial. 

I do understand that under the current Senate rules and the disposition of the Republicans, passage of this bill in its current form is highly unlikely. If this bill doesn’t pass, then I urge you to support the alternative sponsored by Sen. Manchin. While I find that many of Senator Manchin’s positions are either naive or utterly self-serving (or both), on this issue (and that of the filibuster), his alternative provides at least a small step forward. I came to this conclusion after reading Ezra Klein’s commentary on Manchin (NYT) and the statement of Stacey Abrams in support of Manchin’s alternative to S.1. To put it simply, if it’s good enough for Ms. Abrams, it’s good enough for me (and you, too). 

Related to this issue, and others that Congress needs to address is the problem of the filibuster. Again, Senator Manchin (along with Senator Sinema) seems to hold the key. And while I urge you to support the repeal of this extra-Constitutional vestige of a bygone era, I know repeal is highly unlikely. But you can reform the filibuster to require a determined minority to hold the floor and speak to their cause (or read from the phone book— if they can find one). The American people might then might consider the issue and appreciate what the minority is attempting to prevent—the passage of meaningful legislation. Also, put the burden on those wanting to dodge a vote by requiring a vote of 41 Senators to continue the filibuster. Put the burden on the recalcitrant minority. 

Thank you for your efforts on these matters. The time to enact some vital legislation is at hand, and I urge you to take every reasonable step to bring these matters before the Senate and to a vote—and continue to support democracy and the rule of law.

s/ Stephen Greenleaf

End the Filibuster: A Letter to My Senators

 

The U.S. Senate chamber. 

I sent the following email to my two U.S. Senators today, Senator Bennet and Senator Hickenlooper: 

Dear Senator: 

There's been a good deal of commentary about the Senate’s use of the filibuster. I have followed this commentary, and I’ve attempted to consider both sides of the argument, pro and con. I have some sympathy for the argument that legislation that can garner 60 votes may in fact be “better.” But it's an argument that’s only plausible and by no means certain. And an argument is made that legislation that requires 60 votes is more likely to remain in effect even after majority control of the Senate shifts. But this argument, too, is not persuasive. Some legislation should be repealed or modified at the earliest possible date.

In fact, what seems clear to me is that in the current political climate,  the Senate will not be able to enact vital legislation in the face of the continued intransigence of the Republican Party, which has been re-made into the Trumpist party. I see no signs of moderation in the Republican Party and no indication that they could provide a  good faith bargaining counterpart. Even those considered “moderate” or “reasonable” appear to live in fear of the dominant Trumpist majority. When the current Senate could only garner 57 votes in favor of convicting the former president of his most recent offenses, we all could see the character (or lack thereof) in the current Republican Party. You cannot bargain or hope for compromise with a party (with all too few exceptions) that now seeks to fundamentally undermine the democratic process and the rule of law. 

There are too many issues that demand action: protecting voting rights, climate change, reasonable restraints on guns, immigration, and others such that we the American people afford to suffer continued congressional inaction. Therefore, I urge you to end the Senate’s use of the filibuster. This extra-constitutional procedure has led to many more abuses than gains. It also perpetuates the already gross imbalance in representation that we find in the Senate, which in effect allows itself to be ruled by senators who represent a distinct minority of voters. We can’t continue to acquiesce to this situation. Continue to work with Republicans for the common good, by all means, but don’t pretend that you can work with a party that doesn’t have the best interests of the people, the nation, and democracy at the center of its agenda. Be done with this albatross. 

Thank you for your attention to this plea. I look forward to your response. 

Sincerely yours, 

Stephen N. Greenleaf

Colorado Springs, CO