Ending filibuster opens ‘Pandora’s box’ on government weaponization: Concha
The article discusses concerns raised by Washington Examiner’s Joe Concha regarding former President Donald Trump’s proposal to eliminate the senate filibuster, a procedural rule requiring 60 votes to advance most legislation. Trump argues that republicans should end the filibuster first before Democrats can do so, aiming to block progressive policies. However, Concha warns that removing the filibuster could lead to important government overreach, including the potential for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico to gain statehood, which would likely add more Democratic senators and secure a long-term majority for the party. This could also lead to an expanded Supreme Court dominated by liberal justices. Concha describes the filibuster as an significant check and balance designed to prevent radical and permanent changes in government. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans lack the votes to overcome the historic government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, which is severely impacting sectors like air travel during the busy Thanksgiving season. Some moderate Democrats and Republicans are working to resolve the shutdown, but significant bipartisan agreement remains elusive.
Ending filibuster opens ‘Pandora’s box’ on government weaponization: Joe Concha
The Washington Examiner’s Joe Concha is wary of President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the Senate filibuster, saying Sunday it’s there “for a reason.”
Trump is calling for Senate Republicans to “TERMINATE” the 60-vote filibuster in the Senate, though many of these senators do not share his enthusiasm. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has argued that the votes aren’t there for its abolishment, and only 10 senators are open to changes on the filibuster.
Trump argued on Friday that the Democratic Party will eventually eliminate the filibuster, and this is why Republicans must do it first. Concha, however, said this would only greatly aid Democrats if they regain control of the Senate, paving the way for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico to receive statehood.
“That means four Democrat senators being added to that chamber, probably giving them a permanent majority for our lifetime. When you add four just out of nowhere, they’ll expand the Supreme Court where it’ll look more like a basketball roster than anything else, where you’re going to have all these justices from the Left,” Concha said on Fox News’s Fox & Friends Weekend.
“It’s something that if you open up the Pandora’s box, it will be weaponized in a way that opening the government’s a good thing, [but] Democrats will use it for things that give them permanent power, and that’s something that you just do not want to do. It’s there for a reason, it’s a check and balance to government radically changing on certain policies and certain structures,” Concha said.
Senate Republicans are unable to attain the necessary 60 votes needed to end the government shutdown, which just became the longest one in U.S. history. Concha said the country is “one plane crash away” from this shutdown being “deadly,” noting how the air traffic industry is under incredible stress as the Thanksgiving travel season is approaching.
SHUTDOWN ENTERS 40TH DAY WITH FLIGHTS SNARLED NATIONWIDE AND FOOD ASSISTANCE DISRUPTED
A recent Senate vote to end the shutdown on Friday night tallied 53-43. Three Democrats crossed the aisle to vote with all Republicans in favor: Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).
In January 2022, then-Democratic Sens. Kirsten Sinema and Joe Manchin, who later swapped their party affiliation to independent, both opposed the filibuster getting axed during then-President Joe Biden’s leadership. Both encouraged the filibuster to remain preserved in their exit speeches.
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