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 Some legislation should be repealed or modified at the earliest possible date.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