Call your two Senators and ask them to support killing the filibuster.

The filibuster–a procedural move available in the Senate that effectively forces any bill to win a minimum of 60 votes to advance–needs to go.

We could detail the reasons to kill it, or “nuke” it as some say, since killing the filibuster is often referred to as “the nuclear option”. But it’s better to direct you to an absolutely impeccable October 2020 Vox piece by Ezra Klein titled The Definitive Case for Ending the Filibuster:

https://www.vox.com/21424582/filibuster-joe-biden-2020-senate-democrats-abolish-trump

With the swearing-in of Senators Jon Ossoff, Rev. Raphael Warnock, and Alex Padilla, the Democrats have a slight, but real edge in the form of Vice President Kamala Harris, who stands ready to cast tie-breaking votes, if needed.

Fifty plus Harris equals fifty-one. Fifty-one gets it done IF the filibuster is gone.

Senator Mitch McConnell, newly demoted to minority leader, is hell-bent on keeping the filibuster. He wants to guarantee its survival as part of a “power-sharing agreement” currently being hammered out in the Senate.

See an article that discusses McConnell’s preference: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/534855-mcconnell-wants-to-save-filibuster-as-part-of-power-sharing-deal

McConnell has been consistent about defending the filibuster in the sense that he wrote an Op-Ed in the New York Times in August 2019–while he held the majority–that favored keeping it.

See it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/opinion/mitch-mcconnell-senate-filibuster.html

Well, he definitely wants to keep it now. The filibuster is one of the few means by which a minority party can thwart the aims of the majority party. And never forget, McConnell’s first and really his only aim, besides accruing power to himself, is to thwart the aims of Democrats.

If we don’t kill the filibuster, newly elected President Biden will have a hell of a time realizing his agenda.

If he can’t realize his agenda, the Dems will get stomped in the 2022 mid-terms.

So, today, we at OTYCD would like you to call your two Senators (because this is purely a Senate thing) and voice support for killing the filibuster.

Standard preamble: Only call your own Senators. Calling or leaving a voicemail is best, sending an email is second-best but nonetheless effective.

Check your Senators’ social media feeds and website press room before you call and familiarize yourself with what they’ve already said, or failed to say, on the matter.

When you’re done, help friends and family call their two Senators.

And if one of your Senators is Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer? It is extra-important that you call.

Sample calling script: Hello, I am <Firstname Lastname> from <town, state.> I am calling to voice my support for killing the filibuster.

I believe the Democrats and President Biden should have a clear shot at enacting their agenda. The existence of the filibuster–a much-abused Senate device–could prevent that.

I encourage you and your colleagues to remove the filibuster.

If you don’t like bills sponsored by the Democrats, you don’t have to vote for them.

Let the Democrats make their case and pursue legislation to bolster their case. The public can assess their new laws, and if they don’t like them, they can make their displeasure known at the ballot box in 2022.

Thank you for listening.

Subscribe to One Thing You Can Do by clicking the blue button on the upper right or checking the About & Subscribe page. And tell your friends about the blog!