Senate Democrats Say They Have A Way Of Passing Voting Rights Bill Without Touching The Filibuster

Though it may have seemed that Senate Republicans were going to be able to filibuster the For the People Act voting rights bill indefinitely, news from Democrats on Capitol Hill is giving the legislation new life.

On Tuesday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) appeared on “The Rachel Maddow Show” and was asked what other options Democrats might have for passing voting rights legislation. Klobuchar replied:

“Well, there`s a lot of things. We`re working on an infrastructure package right now. And there’s going to — you know, there’s the bipartisan group that’s negotiating hard, but there’s also going to be a second package, and we can include election infrastructure in there.”

"We`re working on an infrastructure package right now. And there`s … the bipartisan group that's negotiating hard, but there's also going to be a second package, and we can include election infrastructure in there." – @SenAmyKlobuchar on Democrats' next steps on voting rights pic.twitter.com/nvO8B4Kd72

— Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) June 23, 2021

Yes! Election infrastructure would include money for securing our elections and providing funding for states to expand their voter registration efforts while also assuring federal oversight of states that are trying to make it more difficult for people to vote.

John Stoehr then followed up on Klobuchar’s remarks:

Amy Klobuchar hinted that the Democrats might stuff the For the People Act into the second massive infrastructure bill & pass it without GOP support under reconciliation by calling it "election infrastructure." Saving democracy without killing the filibuster. THREAD https://t.co/FIaiCkslSZ

— John Stoehr's Editorial Board (@johnastoehr) June 25, 2021

18. By “election infrastructure,” she meant a sweeping overhaul of election laws. By “in there,” she meant in the second of two infrastructure packages the Democrats can pass w/o Republicans. And with that, the Democrats can save democracy while leaving the filibuster untouched.

— John Stoehr's Editorial Board (@johnastoehr) June 25, 2021

21. It would make a lot of sense for Joe Biden to stuff the For the People Act, or some variation of it, into that second “human infrastructure” package and do so in the name of national security.

— John Stoehr's Editorial Board (@johnastoehr) June 25, 2021

Reconciliation only requires a simple majority to pass the Senate, meaning that if all 50 Democrats voted in favor and all 50 Republicans voted against, Vice President Kamala Harris would cast the deciding vote and the For the People Act would become the law of the land, making all of voter suppression laws in various states (Georgia, Texas, etc.) invalid because federal law always trumps state.

Also this week, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the Justice Department will file suit against Georgia for their package of voter suppression bills that passed the general assembly earlier this year and were promptly signed into law by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R).

All of this is certain to infuriate Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), but there’s not a damn thing he can do about it. Once the Senate parliamentarian signs off on the election infrastructure bill, a vote can be held and the For the People Act will become the law of the land.

Democrats are about to pull off a something worth celebrating: Making sure every eligible American voter can vote easily and without interference from Republicans.

Suck on THAT, Moscow Mitch!