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11/12/24, 7:25 PM

Opinion: Democrats still have filibuster. Thank Sinema for saving it

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OPINION

Opinion: Democrats have one way to stop Trump in GOP Senate. You can thank Sinema for that 804 868 248.

With Republicans soon to be in control of the White House, the Senate and maybe even the House, the filibuster will be one of Democrats' few remaining speed bumps to slow down Trump's plans.

LAURIE LAURIE LAURIEROBERTS ROBERTS ROBERTS Arizona Republic

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So, I imagine that Democrats’ thank-you notes are in the mail to outgoing U.S. Sens.

Kyrsten Kyrsten KyrstenSinema Sinema, Joe JoeManchin Manchin, Sinema I-Ariz., and Joe Manchin D-W.Va., for their refusal to end the filibuster. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/11/09/election-results-senate-republican-majority-filibuster/76129111007/

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11/12/24, 7:25 PM

Opinion: Democrats still have filibuster. Thank Sinema for saving it

U.S. U.S. U.S.Rep. Rep. Rep.Ruben Ruben RubenGallego Gallego Gallego once called the 60-vote Senate rule “aaa tool tool toolof of ofobstruction obstruction,” obstruction back when Democrats ran the joint. Gallego, in in inaaatight tight tightrace race raceto to toreplace replace replaceSinema Sinema Sinema in the Senate, was one of many Democrats who called out the senator for her refusal to join with them to end the filibuster so that a wish list of Democratic proposals could flow forth on a simple majority vote.

“My position is that filibuster has to get reformed. It’s not a tool of compromise, it’s a tool of obstruction,” Gallego said last year as he announced his Senate campaign.

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., running for the U.S. Senate, speaks onstage with his wife, Sydney Gallego, at an election night watch party on Nov. 5, … Show more MARIO TAMA/GETTY IMAGES

Still feeling the same way, I wonder, now that Republicans Republicans Republicansare are areabout about aboutto to tocontrol control controlthe the theSenate Senate?

Senate Now that Donald Trump will be back in the White House, with a Senate eager to advance his agenda on taxes and immigration? On education and health care and social policy?

(Judicial and andexecutive executive executivebranch branch branchconfirmations confirmations confirmationsrequire require requireonly only only51 51 51votes votes, Judicial Judicial and votes as that portion of the filibuster rule was gutted a decade or so ago.)

Democrats said Sinema was wrong to protect filibuster

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/11/09/election-results-senate-republican-majority-filibuster/76129111007/

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Opinion: Democrats still have filibuster. Thank Sinema for saving it

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., on May 3, 2024, in Sedona.

JOE RONDONE/THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

Democrats were aghast when Sinema Sinema Sinemaand and andManchin Manchin Manchinheld held heldfirm firm firmon on onthe the thefilibuster filibuster filibuster after Joe Biden became president, refusing to ditch the procedural rule to pass a voting rights bill in 2022.

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Ditto in September, when Vice President Kamala Harris called for scrapping the filibuster to pass abortion rights legislation.

“To state the supremely obvious, eliminating eliminating eliminatingthe the thefilibuster filibuster filibusterto to tocodify codify codifyRoe Roe RoevvvWade Wade Wade also enables a future Congress to ban all abortion nationwide,” Sinema said in September.

“What an absolutely absolutely absolutelyterrible, terrible, terrible,shortsighted shortsighted shortsightedidea. idea.” idea. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/11/09/election-results-senate-republican-majority-filibuster/76129111007/

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11/12/24, 7:25 PM

Opinion: Democrats still have filibuster. Thank Sinema for saving it

Democrats immediately reached for their knives.

Today, they should be reaching for her hand, to thank Sinema for standing tough.

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Opinion: IIIguess guess guessTrump Trump Trumpwon won wonbecause because becauseDemocrats Democrats Democratsforgot forgot forgotto to tocheat. cheat. cheat.Oops!

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Filibuster will protect Democrats in GOP-run Senate With Republicans soon to be in control of the White House, the Senate and maybe even the House, the filibuster will be one of the Democrats’ few remaining speed bumps to slow down some of Trump’s more controversial plans for America.

Can you imagine if Democrats had already gutted it?

Opinion: Voting Voting Votingdisinformation disinformation disinformationis is ishere here hereto to tostay, stay, stay,but but butour our ourelection election electionsystem system systemworked worked workedflawlessly flawlessly flawlessly In 2018, when Republicans Republicans Republicanscontrolled controlled controlledboth both boththe the theHouse House House and Senate Senate, Senate a frustrated President Trump called for ending the filibuster as Democrats blocked his border initiatives and other grand plans.

Then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mitch MitchMcConnell McConnell McConnellresisted resisted resistedTrump’s Trump’s Trump’scall call. call On Wednesday, McConnell stood firm once again on keeping keeping keepingthe the thefilibuster filibuster filibuster in place even though Republicans could junk the supermajority rule with a simple majority vote.

“The filibuster will stand,” McConnell told reporters.

Though McConnell is stepping down as party leader, his comments signal that Senate Republicans likely will leave the filibuster in place.

And Democrats? I’m guessing suddenly that antiquated “tool of obstruction” is now looking an awful lot like a protector of minority rights.

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/11/09/election-results-senate-republican-majority-filibuster/76129111007/

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Opinion: Democrats still have filibuster. Thank Sinema for saving it

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Notable firsts that made history in the 2024 election A roundup of notable "firsts" in the 2024 election.

Laurie Roberts is a columnist at the Arizona Republic, where where wherethis this thiscolumn column columninitially initially initially published published. laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. published Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz @LaurieRobertsaz @LaurieRobertsaz and on Threads: @LaurieRobertsaz @LaurieRobertsaz @LaurieRobertsaz

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Opinion: Democrats still have filibuster. Thank Sinema for saving it

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